The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1921-03-10
WASHINGTON NEWS LETTER

seems quiet as usual in the National
Capital once more The Sixty-sixth
Congress died at twelve noon on the
4th, and many retiring members and
others have already left the city. Sew
eral of the more important commit
tees, including the Ways and Means,
are in session however, and new con-
gressmen are arriving at the Capital
to be in readiness to enter the vacat-
ed offices, prior to the converting Of
the new congress in the special ses-
sion to be called by President Harding
early in April.
Outwardly few changes have taken
place since Harding took the oath Of
office on the Capitol steps. However,
ceremonies, flags about TIE city and
over the government buildings are at
half mast in honor Of Champ Clark,
the Democratic leader, whose body is
lying in state on the floor of the
House of Representatives, where the
great Missourian served his state and
nation for twenty-six years. The
former speaker died three days before
the expiration of his term, having
failed of reelection to the House as
result Of the Republican landslide.
At the White House, too, change
was noticeable for the iron gates were
open and unguarded for the first time
since the war and crowds thronged the
White House lawn. Otherwise there
was little apparent change in life
about the headquarters of officialdom
and, save for an under current Of spec
ulation as to probable appointments,
little to talk about.
Fourteen new senators, including
Ladd Of North Dakota, and Norbeck,
of South Dakota, took their oath of
office under Vice President Coolidge.
Three newly elected senators were al
ready in their seats, having been APP
pointed to fill vacancies: Hefiin, of
Alabama, whose predecessor, Bank
head died in office; Gooding Of Idaho,
who succeeded John F. Nugent, who
resigned following his defeat in No.
vember, and Frank B. Willis of Ohio,
who took President Harding's seat in
the senate, following the latter's
resignation. The seventeen new sem
ators elected in November included
thirteen Republicans and four Demo-
Gratis.
Senator AISLE J. Gronna, North Da-
kota's retiring senator, was elected
to the United States Senate in Jen-
uary, 1911, after having served three
terms in the House of Representa-
tives. He was reelected to the Sem
ate November 3, 1914.
Senator Gronna, as chairman of the
Committee on Agriculture and men,
Der Of the Appropriations and other
important committees, had arisen to
a position Of prominence in the Sen
ate and to the last was tireless
champion of the farming industry
and the interests of the common peo-
pie. In the recent short session he
was largely responsible for the pass
age of the War Finance resolut3oa
that re-establshed the War Finance
Corporation, saw his bill to regulate
the packing industry through the Sen
ate, and, in the closing days of the ses-
sion, secured the passage of his bill
appropriating funds for the relief Of
drought-stricken farmers Of the
Northwest.
The House passed the amendment
to the Agriculture bill appropriating
funds for the relief of farmers in the
drought areas in North Dakota and
Montana, after reducing the amount
authorized from $4,000, 900 to $4,000
900. This change was made upon the
motion of Anderson of Minnesota, af-
ter South Dakota congressman had
stated that their state was not in need
of relief funds.
The amendment for the purchase of
cnol IN, r,rDu1l,ol h1o
position and in the debate that pre-
coded the adoption of the Senate
amendment the Nonpartisan League
administration in North Dakota came
in for considerable panning. Royal
Johnson, South Dakota, although sup
parting the bill, took occasion to Bit
terly denounce the activities Of the
League, saying in part:
81 call attention to the fact that
today. while there are two Nonparti-
san League representatives in this
House from North Dakota, Mr. Baer
and Mr.. Sinclair, neither one of them
nor any person connected with the
Nonpartisan League seems anxious to
give this bill any assistance or is will
ing to answer any questions, but the
fight for this bill devolves upon the
gentleman from North Dakota, Mr..
Young, and the gentleman from Mon
tana, Mr.. Riddick, both of whom have
been advocating sound legislation for
many years"
Congressman Young rose at this
juncture and stated that Mr.. Sinclair
was present and supporting the bill.
Representative Sinclair later spoke
in favor Of the bill and, after speaking
Of the need Of relief legislation, re-
piled to the statement of the South
Dakota representative. In speaking
Of the situation, politically, Mr.. Sin
clair said: IF they 1.-THE farmers)
have made mistakes, those mistakes
have been of the head rather than
of the heart. They are patriotic,
liberty-loving citizens, and compare
favorably with any class in the Unit
ed States. Every state official that
we have is man of intelligence and
integrity. Most Of them have lived
in the state for 30 years. Our gov
ernor is university graduate and
very intelligent and able man. I
think it is hardly fair for the gentle-