Evening star., 1922-02-09
DEM0CRATSWkT
FOR OPPORTUNITY
Believes They Have Tactical
Advantage, as Majority
Takes Up Program.

President Earding's efforts to get
the republicans in the House and
Senate In agreement upon policy OF
legislation which will bring results,
and to speed up it's accomplishment.
is being watched with great interest
by the democratic political leaders.
The democratic attitude for the time
being might be characterized as one
of "watchful waiting. They are
watching the republican maneuvers
and waiting to see how they eventnate
in action.
The democrats are said to feel that
they have the position Of tactical ad-
vantage at present. kWhatever the
republicans do they Will take occa-
sion to find fault with it. while they
feel sure of being able to point to
list of sins of omission which may be
quite as disastrous to the majority
party, They realize that they have
no responsibility and are free 10
criticise, even though they nave no
constructive program to offer as al
Tentative.
Bonus Bill Problem.
The soldiers bonus bill is classed
as being the knottiest proposition. in
POLITICAL consequences involved, fac
ing the republicans. AS TO enactsns
this legislation. it is said to be 1elt
that the republicans will be con-
demned If they do and condemned ~
they don't AS the dominant party
in control of all branches OF the ad,
ministration. they will be repropareaa
by the service men if the bill is aAoWeo
to fail. while there is prospect una.
they may be scored by the taxpassss
and big and little business If the our-
dams Of taxation are increased in
way to be measurably felt by the mass
Of the people.
in better case than the majority party.
They can vote for the bill. thereby en-
dearing themselves individually to the
former soldiers. while the party in pow
er will be held responsible for the I'M
position of the additional taxes. Ecnoee
are heard of the suggestion tnat tne ih-
dependent vote of the electorate may re-
sent the imputation that the republicans
are seeking to influence the congress
sional elections next November by this
nlay for the support of the soldier vote.
BY the same token, it might seem that
any democrat who voted for the Dill
would be subject to the same charse as
an individual, but the democrats are
said to take refuge in the thought that
the administration will be held TO ac-
count.
Votes on Tariff Schedules.
How far the tariff may operate as
a political factor in the elections may
depend, it is said, upon the bipartisan
votes on the various scueuuieS -, -
bill, 1t is thought that there Will be
notable departures from party lnes
in these votes, having in mlnd the
AGRICULTURAL bloc. but it is pointed
out that the final vote on the Dill
itself may dissipate some OF the I'M
pressions thus created.
There will then be the same dlvi-
sion between democrats and repuo-
iicans on the general policy OF tarin
for revenue only and tariff for protec-
tion to American industries. The re
publicans, it is said, would like to
go to the country with a clear.cut
division on this question. confident as
they are that the majority sentiment
Of the nation is at heart favorable
to protection. Yet no man in pubic
life blinds himself to. the assertion
that the tariff is all the time oecom,
less of a political issue. :