The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-07
Sales Tax
Is. Opposed
Western Republican Sena-
tors Show Their Hand
on Tax Legislation.
py DAVID LAWRENCE.
lcoryrlghc by TIE In;el.geneer)

WaShinStrr. OCT. 6.-Thc solidarity
OF the EvpEo.!cdn party HANKS IN the
balance. Temporarily. AZ least. the ad-
a.irlSt:at:un leaders have achieved 4
truce. Tho agricultural bloc. as tho
group Of wes;c-H Republicans are ca led.
has succeeded II making such a show
OF insurgency as tu alarm the eastern
leaders Uith the c.SUlt that peace over
tureS have been ;Iade b. the latter.
senator Iods;e. administration leader.
spent an hour w;;h President Harding
.Iumedia tely after the conference AZ the
home Of Senator Cappcr OF Kansas. It
whicS the agricultural senators We're
pet!;i0Ned 20 l. .ep in mind the future OF
the Republican party. Mr.. Lodge ap-
peared IN the role uf pe1ceu.aAer an"
avoided committing himself to any
dehnii, p-o-rl'I hut carried word taat
Senator Jim Watson ot Indiana. Sena-
other administration Republicans. wero
willing 10 make concessions 10 meet the
western senators half way.
For Higher SurtAxss.
Just what price tie eastern Repuoh-
cans will have 10 pay for part. soltdar-
AGRICULTURAL, bloc were OF the opinion
that the surtaNes on the higher incomes
would have 10 be restored and that I'M
mediate repeal Of the transportation
there woutd he any break in their ranks.
AS fo- a sales TAX - manufacturers TAX.
the agricultural senators made plain
their uaaitccahls opposition. some or
them are more favorable TO the ranu-
factu-ers' TAX IS proposed by Senator
Smoot than any Of the earlier plans for
q sales tax bat the majority or the
western Republicans w!ll not accept
\ even that :orm OF taxation.
President Harding is plainly worried;
senators in the hope Of getting har-
mony. His administration spokesmen
are working r:c.t and day n an ettors
to preven, 4 break between the eastern
and western senators. II looked for 4
Rhine as II the agricultural. Republicans
would form a coalition with certain
Democrats who feel aS they do and
bring ahou. tSe passage ot amendments
] 10 the house bill which would greatly
emharraSS the Republican program
Senator WdtSoa appealed TO his Ke-
publican colleagues from the west to
thresh things out on one side OF inc
aisle IN cHe senate and torego the humil-
iation OF party division on the frst
great .S;le OF tho Harding admintstra-
tion. His appeals. w"re needed. how
ever. c:l,y whHr he SiSn:fed 4 wiling
ness 10 SURRENDER 70 the western Re-
puhllcaES on sonle essential points.
Democratic Tactics.
The western Republicans !rdtcatei
TO y th,: t!.ay wer" very ;HGCh encour-
aged bv the results Of Senator Capper' $
conference and the informal statements
or aG:llGl l~tTttl. n Ie'NusFS. Ncttt"u uI.",
the Democrats ara paying their usual
shrewd tactics. As minority party
they a.HarS have managed 70 get a.on-;
better ,Han a$ a majority. Senator sim
mons OF Eorth Carolina. Democrat. who
knows 4 whole lot about taxation Is
fram!ac so:r~ plausible tax amendments
which !, Will He difficult for some Re-
publi,SHS - vote against. All the
trouh'As a. tar!ti-rakInS In the pld
days hay. 3rsu revived cr,y with ever
SO c.any more complications and COM
binattorS
TIE crisis means more - the EePuo'
licGn pay at this moment than the
Democ5a for the former have tho re-
sporS.h.t.tv .: pOw.-. Ia" fgh, be-
tween tho Republicans representing az
ricu,:Ural Sca'eS and these coming fror>
the = opu,ouS eastern constituencies
whNrs big business and manufacturing
crcc. TriSeS -es!,lH - oCir IN its infanc%
The Same lines Of cleavage are also ap-
pare=: ~ ~, ,'nDt-c "rSy over the rail-
road tIrGirS hill. The wsStcrneTS say
f~ciSl,t ,.'sE ruUSt CorIs down before
they Will he,p IL" railroads. II Frcsl-
den, HARDING ard Sem tor Lodge can
preserve the solidarity ~ the party
however. IN the senate on tax issues
,hey ~ have ach'e' ed a & ~ moral
V!y'o-v arf thr!r prospects Os getting
the railroad %!t thro&Eh will be CORE
spcn!irg.Y hrrC,r'e-. But Il looks today
as - chA agricultural Republicans were
Corrortt-.' -" tdStEr1erS 20 their View
pC.c. a.! 'hgt the true leadership OF tho
EepGr':"aH 12rcv - ro1rtrC ouc or rho
west a,"a tNough tE% :tttilac leadership
nay re N":'el N TIE eastern group.