Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-10
GO. ?. HISTORY
FOR 1921 LIKE
DEATH RECORD
Story Of Buried Business
Hopes and Failures to
Accomplish.
ONE WORTH WHILE ACT
Bv RICHARD LINTHICUM

of the Republican administration Tor 152l
under reactionary leadership par
takes more Of the nature Of neurology,
including dead hopes for business and
industrial revival in that calendar year.
ANY review of the Republican failure
in 1921 to be thoroughly understood and
properly analysed must be prefaced by
at least a summarized statement Of the
Legislative record of that party begin
ming in 1919 for the Republican party
was in control of both branches Of the
Congress of the United States for two
years prior to 1921.
In the Congress of 1919, the Democratic
party presented a comprehensive pro-
gram Of reconstruction, including scion
tifc tax revision based upon knowledge
and understanding of economic principles
which if it had been adopted would have
relieved the people of most Of the bur
densome war taxes and have made neces-
sarv taxation bearable by reason of its
equitable and just distribution.
The reactionary Republican element in
caontroI of legislation rejected the Dem
ocratic plan for reconstruction and then
failed TO pass any remedial legislation.
Whether the failure was due to incompe-
tency or to an unholy desire to con-
tinue the oppressive burdens OF the wars
In order to bring about a popular re-
volt in the campaign Of 1920, is matter
of opinion The excuse offered by the
reactionaries for failure to act was that
nothing permanent could be accomplished
until the Republican party had full con-
troll Of the Government.
In the Congress Of 1919, the Republican
Senate played politics With the peace
of the world and in so doing promoted
and brought on a universal economic
breakdown, the effect of which is shown
by an economic loss to this country alone
Of $4,000, 100000, or nearly twice as
much as the war cost the United States
financially. That is tie Legislative rec
ord of the party under reactionary CON
troll prior to the inauguration Of Presi-
dent Harding last March, when it came
into full control Of all branches of the
Government
On April II, the Congress overwhelm-
ingIy Republican in both branches, and
the Republican majorities overwhelm-
ingly dominated by reactionaries, was
called in special session and did not ad-
journ sine die until the eve of Thanks
giving, by which Adjournment it added
a special reason for the observance q
that day.
without exception the good legislation
passed by that special session was non
partisan legislation or legislation passed
by a coalition Of Democratic and progress
sfve Republicans. Among the nonpartt.
san legislation can be cited the budget
act, farms credit act, good roads act,
soldiers relief act, the grain exchange
act, etc, some Of which originated with
the Democrats. The packers control
act and grain exchange acts were passed
nm
position.
The one outstanding great achievement
the Borah Resolution for a conference
on the limitation Of armaments--was
forced through both houses by the feal
Of a coalition of Democrats and Progress
siye Republicans.
The two achievements, if such legisla-
ton can be called achievements, of the
reactionary group were the emergency
tariff act and the tax revision act.
The emergency tariff act was loudly
heralded by the reactionary Republicans
as their specific for the ills of the farmer,
but in reality it provided only high
protection for the manufacturers, tncreas
ing the cost of every ching the farmer
bought, and instead of raising the price
of his products and charging his market,
resulted in rapidly decreasing the prices
of agricultural products and more eff
fectualIy choked agricultural exports
which are vital to the farmers prosper
ity. 1t was a brazen attempt to fool
the farmer, trusting to luck that coDdi-
lions would improve and was thoroughly
exposed prior to its passage. Instead
Of helping the farmer it has given him
The first big concrete illustration Of the
fact, well known to all economists, that
he
manufacturing and specially favored
classes and Injuries almost to the point
of destruction the agricultural and other
natural industries.
The other act Of Republican reaction
aryism, the tax revision act, is I'M
satisfactory to almost every class Of tax
payer. The Republican leaders admit it
is a botch and will have to be done
over again. It's only redeemiug features
were In the form Of amendments purposed
by Senate Democrats led by Senator
Simmons of North Carolina supplemented
by the able and brilliant arguments Of
Senators Hitchcock of Nebraska, Reed OF
Missouri Walsh of Massachusetts, Gerry
of Rhode Island and Of other Democratic
Senators who have so clearly and ably
demonstrated that the Democratic party
is the one party that understands the
economic principles of taxation and Is
thoroughly competent to enact a just and
equitable tax law.
There is not so far a single act of
legislation for which the Republican
majorities in Congress are responsible
that has solved a single problem Of re-
construction or given necessary relief to
the distressful condition Of business and
industry,
The administrative records Of the Re-