The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-10-28
WASHINGTON LETTER

ence last week, has been temporarily
averted by the surrender by the Old
Guard reactionaries to the Progress
sive Republicans in the matter Of
amendments to the tax bill, out Of
which the Democrats gain decisive
victory by reason Ct the fact that they
first drafted md presented the amend
ments in the Senate which the Repub-
lican Progressives compelled the Re-
publican reactionaries to accept.
This incident has most clearly re-
vealed that the differences within the
Republican party are as fundamental
and irreconcilable as they were in
1912. The compromise on the tax bill
is temporary expedient and does not
permanently heal the. breach. The
question which now confronts the
Old Guard reactionaries of the senate
is whether they will continue to sur
render to the Progressives on other
pending legislation, thus DESERVING
their predatory corporation and fnan-
cial allies, or whether they will refuse
to yield further and thus bring about
coalition between the Democrats and
Progressive Republicans. resulting in
an overthrow of the administrations
reactionary legislative program.
The history of the clash resulting in
the surrender of the Old Guard and a
Democratic victory is worthy of per-
manent record, and is as follows:
Senator Simmons (Dem., N. g.
former chairman of the Senate FL
nance Committee, on September 30,
presented in the Senate the Demo-
cratic amendments to the tax bill, set
forth in detail in this correspondence
last week, the substance of which was
to restore certain taxes which had been
taken off corporations and the mil
lionaire class, to prevent the repeal
of others and to repeal the transpor-
tation tax. These amendments were
adopted in substance at conference
of Progressive Republicans, who SER
we'd notice on the reactionaries that
they would insist upon their accept
ance by the Senate Finance Commit
tee. By a 5 to 4 vote the reactionary
Republicans of the Senate Finance
Committee accepted the amendments,
which, it is generally conceded, will
improve the tax bill, without remov-
ing all of it's iniquities.
The benefits to the average tax
payer resulting therefrom will be due
to Democratic initiative and to Pro-
gressive Republican teamwork. The
amendments are exactly in keeping
with tile Democratic promise at the
beginning of this session of Congress
to be helpful and constructive in all
legislation.
Progressive West Again in the Saddle
All the indications are at this writ
ing that the progressive West is again
in the saddle as it was in 1912. The
differences within the Republican par
ty then are the differences within that
party now. 1t is the Old Guard reac-
tionary group, dominated by preda-
tory corporate and financial interests,
seeking only special privileges,
against the liberal and progressive
element representing the great pro-
ducing section Of the West.
Of the 60 Republicans in the Sen
ate SO are from the West, and it is
therefore apparent that if the pro.
gressive West will stand together, il
can, with Democratic assistance
change the whole trend of Legislation
at this session from reactionary tt
progressive. Whatever the Progress
sives will retain the advantage the!
have gained will be demonstrated lat
er when the railroad loan bill Of $500,
100000 comes up, together with thu
war loan fund bill. most siniste
reactionary and hitherto unheard o
piece of legislation, in that it confer
upon the Secretary of the Treasur!
sole power to do as he pleases will
$11 100000, 900 of war loan debts, ant
the absurd Fordney tariff bill in tn
interest of the manufacturing elias
and detrimental to agricultural inter
ests generally; also when the confer
ence shall take place on the pendinl
tax bill. This much now seems Ger
tain. Either the Old Guard must g
on surrendering or the Progressiv
! Republican element of the West mus
again submit to be cajoled and foole
if the party is to be held together.
The Progressive Republicans hav
taken long time to assert them
selves. They have permitted not on
ly the interests Of the West to suffe
but the whole nation as well for tn
last three years as result of thei