Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-17
Can a Coalition Succeed"

Can 4 Coalition Succeed?
I T appears from the news dispatches that
ovcrtures have been made by Repuh-
lican ''progreSsivcs' in the Senate to GER
tain Democratic leaders of that body for
coalition of the minority and group of
iasurgent Republicans under which control
OF the upper branch OF Congress may he
seized from time to time in The interest OF
progressive legislation.
1t is not proposed that this fusion OF
forces reorganize the Senate. dislodging
Senator Lodge as the leader OF that body.
or disturbing any of the powerful committee
charmen who make up the Lodge support.
These men are TO be left in nominal com
mand Of the Senate, 10 have and To hold
all patronage and all titles which have
fallen TO them. 1t would be difficult If
not impossible, 10 form combination OF
Democrats and Republicans for purposes OF
Spoils.
The minds of the fusionists are fixed upon
higher things. They want first so we are
informed to eXpe Senator Newbcrry from
his seat on the ground that he paid cash
for ii, or perhaps too much cash. After
the Senate is sterilZcd by this act it is the
ambition Of the insurgents to map out and
put into effect plan of action whereby
bill. n more equitable taxation bill, n safe
guarded foreign debt refunding measure
and Federal supervision over certain basic
industries. None of this legislation, il is
expected. can be hoped for from rcac-
tionnry Senate majority.
Observers would take the suggested
coalition far more seriously if these same
progrcsSives did not amely surrender 10
The Old Guard two years ago, when, the
Democrats having lost the Senate. the
dictionaries rcOrganiZcd that body without
hindrancc from the forward-lookcrs For
weeks the progressives Numbered against
Penrosc, Warren, Lodge and Smoot. then
on the showdown they quit the game and
swallowed the whole business
However, two and half years OF rule
by these same reactionarics may have con
WINGED tho Borahs and kenyons and the
Nofrises that they stigma,iZed themselves
when they accepted the old yoke and that
the time has now come for them TO kick
over the traces and show the country how
pure in heart they are. how Jealous they
may be for the salvation of great nation.
and how independent they can be when
great questions of policy are under con
sdcration
Democratic leaders who have been APP
preached may well be cautious about an al
lance with the progressvcs. The minority
is unable, on any party vote, TO affect the
course of legislation. but il can keep the
faith II can lodge its protests against
party piii"ring by an unconsconable ma
jority. II can keep the record straight
If there Is 10 he a coulitinu--and Ger
tain favorable results from il are conceiv-
ablc-that combination should be made on
Democratic terms. The insurgcut Rcpubli-
cans should be given notice that they must
accept Democratic policies if they want To
array themselves against reactionarv ma
iority. Democratic leaders have nothing to
gain i'll the direction OF public confidence or
political strategy in allowing a handful of
Republican rccalcitrants to take them into
camp, using their larger vote TO advertise
progressive Republican triumphs.
The final report OF the experts shows that
Nirgnians always live well if not altogether
right ana as consequence Virginia is far
and away behind her sister commemorative
in pellagra production
After thrc" years of exposure of Mich
igan's election wickcdncss the United States
senate has decided ihat Ncwbcrrv il en-
titled 10 his seat. Heaven knows he paid
enough for it.
silver dollars are now being coined for
| the first time in seven years-pcrbans 10
make that much-talkcd-of lining for some
| o! me clouds That arc alleged To be hanging
| about.