The Penn's Grove record., 1921-12-09
CONGRESS IN REGULAR SESSION
Farm Labor Group Gained Balance of
Power and Split Republican Party

President Harding called Congress
TO meet in special session on April II.
The members took more vacations,
played golf and went on p%icnics than
days were devoted to legislation in
seven months. The revenue bill was
finally passed which relieved a small
amount of taxation. Yet the slump
in business will make the less amount
to pay harder than the higher rate
during prosperity. Adjournment was
made before Thanksgiving.
Last Monday Congress met in the
first regular session of H%arding's adj
ministration. The Republicans are
seriously divided not only on impor-
lance in domestic and international
strong faction opposed to any propo-
sition to place the United States in a
society of nations, the expected out
growth of the Washington conference.
With legislation of the first impor-
lance in domestic and international
concerns to be considered in the pres
ent session, the Republican leaders
find themselves unable to lead. The
progressive farm-labor bloc is
stronger than in the special session,
when it defied the recognized leaders
and even rejected the advice of Presi-
dent Harding on the suPtaX feature
of the revenue bill. During the recess
this bloc has perfected its organiza-
ton and it will appear with a settled
program.
It is declared that the only way
this Republican group can be over
come is by a combination of the old
guard Republicans with the Demo-
Gratis, and that such a combination
cap be perfected is doubted, as in the
special session the Democrats joined
with the progressive bloc.
Evidences are accommodating to show
that the Republican Party is entering
on such a career as it did in the first
session of the Taft administration. In
that session the progressive group
was formed and fought stubbornly
against the enactment of the Payne
Aldrich tariff. The party leaders
were strong enough then to prevent
the progressives having their way.
The result was that the Tariff bill be-
came a law and the progressive group
finally broke away from the party
and. in 1912, formed the party which
had Colonel Roosevelt as its candidate
for President.
May Defy Party Leaders
With the Progressive Farm-Labor
bloc controlling the balance of power
it is possible for this small body of
men to defy the recognized leaders
and write a Tariff bill which will sat
isfy the progressives, but will be a bit
ter pill to the Old Guard and the con-
servative Republicans One thing is
certain to develop in the considera-
tior of the Tariff and the Ship Sub
sidy bill, and that is that the party
will be divided and without leaders.
In this situation many observers be-
lieve there is not much prospect that
legislation will be any more satisfac-
tory to the country than was the Rev
enue bill made in the special session.
Exceeding in international and do
nestle interest the question of the
foreign debt is the action which Con-
gress will be called upon to take in
some form in case the Conference for
Limitation of Armament succeeds.
Advisers of the Administration say
that plans for limitation of naval
ornaments cannot be dealt with ex-
cept by a treaty or a resolution. Pre-
dominant opinion favors a treaty with
the powers concerned in the reduc-
ton.
While both of these matters are
sure to cause a long, and perhaps di-
vided, discussion in the Republican
party, the real test of the party lead
and the strength of President
Harding will come when the tariff
and the legislation for a ship subsidy
appear.
West Against The East
1t is expected that the Progressive
Farm-Labor bloc will show its power
in a more determined form during the
regular session, especially in these
two matters of a distinct political
character. The Progressive bloc al
ready has declared for heavy tariff
duties on farm products, with slight
duties on manufactured products. 1t
is the West against the East.
The same bloc, or, rather, the lead
ing men in this bloc, always have OPP
posed a ship subsidy so there is evil
dence already on the surface of a bit
ter and uncompromising fight in the
Republican Party over tariff and a
ship subsidy which may have a seri-
u effect on the Congressional cleo
tons next November.