, 1922-01-18
HE BLOC

"a treat deal has been printed on the subject of the
so-eaIled farmer bloc" notes the National hepao-
lean. THE power Of this so-called block has been
exaggerated. its purposes misrepresented. and an ef-
fort has been made 10 stir up sectional and class pre-
irdice on the basis Of irresponsible newspaper TAX
about the domination of congress BY an agrarAn
group. The last manifestation Of hystsria along this
line is a yronuneiamen.o given out by a New York
firm Of stock brokers warning the country against the
control Of legislation by the farming Interest," This
statement continues: 1t is uncomfortable that the greai
business and banking interests will endure for long the
meddlesome experimental Determinations of politics
dominated by the middle west
THE National Republican stands firmly against
'blocs' in legislation. whether these be 'blocs' Of the
kind that forced through congress the Adamson law
and government ownership of railways in the alleged
interest Of labor, farmer 'blocs' that represent only
the welfare of a single class or .blocs' of the sort that
inveigh as this bloc diatribe from the eastern sea
board does against other sections Of the country and
against all legislation not intended primarily to bene-
Ii the interests Of that part of the country in which
population and wealth is most concentrated. The
bloc composed OF those interested in importing in
terests rather than in American productive industry,
and which is therefore opposed to a protective tariff
on an american valuation basis. is not only just as
objectionable to people nationaly-m minded rs a farm
or or labor bloc but it carries this additional odium
OF standing for the promotion Of foreign rather than
home Interests.
The .blsc' business in congress is not q new thing.
1t has h~pursaei without being generally identified for
: long tine. Eastern Interests and political leaders
have been rs guilty IS western, while the sectionalism
oEspush-rn pohlGens Is chranic- ANY agitation winch
seeks 20 array east against west, or west against cas-;
isunpatriotic. Nothing can come Of it but harm to the
whole country
while we are being asked By many people, espe-
cially by many who depreeate the alleged sectionalism
Of the middle and western portions of the country, to
think Of cur duties and responsibilities across the At
hntie. might it not be a good time to be thinking of
our duties and responsibilities to our own people here
al home2 II deep depression exists among the farm
ers and manufacturers of the United States,-and il
does.-why not give some consideration to the iripor-
lance of helping them out? It is easier in some quar-
tiers 10 get up enthusiasm about reyiving European in
dustry and restoring European credit than in behalf
of the revival Of American industry and the protee-
ton of American credit
"Granted that sectional and class groups In congress
nre undesirable, and. If they seek to profit at the sac
Rice Of the general welfare, they are unpatriotic,
equally unpatriotic is the attitude Of the American
who Is unwilling to give as much confederation to
American needs as TO the necessities Of Europe and
the profits OF those who are willing to sacrifice the
welfare of their own country In order to protect Eu-
ropesn investments and promote European importa-
tors. One such bloc is as bad as another, and the in
dividual or interest which is ready to stir up sectional,
class or cceupational hatred in America. no matter
what his location, IS an enemy OF the republic