Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-02-15
TRIES
10 BLOCK THE BLOC
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
i Washington, Feb. President Hard
ings most effective move so far against
the agricultural bloc was his appoint
ment of Senator William S. Kenyon
(Rep., Iowa. the leader OF the BLOC,
to Federal cirucut judgeship, thus
taking the Ken out of the "Ken-Cap-
Klan," as Senator Pat Harrison wit
tily put it. In point OF ability, high
character and public service rendered
Senator Kenyon measures up fully to
the appointment, but there are other
phases of the matter upon which pub
lie opinion will not be so well agreed.
From the viewpoint OF reactionary
Old Guard politics. the President can
be credited with piece OF adroit
strategy in his efforts to destroy the
agricultural bloc by Turing away its
leader with the one prize upon which
it was known his ambition was set.
1t is a serious, but not All irreparable
loss to the agricultural bloc. There
arc many leaders in that determined
group OF men: III fact. they are the
only group. except the democrats,
who have shown any real leadership
in this Congress. Their greatest dam
ger now is that others may not be
any more proof against temptation to
leave their farmer constituency in the
lurch than was Senator Kenyon, and
the President has many attractive
offices yet to be filled.
A crisis exists in the agricultural
industry. but this is not the crisis with
which President Harding is dealing;
his concern is about the crisis, which
exists in the Republican party. The
strength of the agricultural bloc has
developed to point where that
group. standing together, can control
legislation by working i'll harmony
with the Democrats. All the indicated
policies of the Harding administration
are that legislation shall be controlled
by the reactionary group. coming
from that section described by Con-
gresham Madden. Republican Chair
man OF the House of Appropriations
| Committee, as north OF the Ohio
River and east of the Mississippi
For the reactionary block to tri-
umph it is necessary to destroy the
agricultural bloc. or weaken it to a
point of ineffectiveness. In open
contest with the Old Guard. the agri-
cultural bloc can come off victor at
any time. but the appointment of SEN
ator Kenyon raises the question
whether or not they are proof against
the most insidious form of Repub-
lican strategy-the seductive tempta-
ton OF Federal jobs and places of
power: Whether or not they will sac
rifice the interests of the, agricultural
section to their own weakness or
personal ambition?
| Senator Kcnyons appointment is
aimed directly at the agricultural in
tcrests as we'll as at the insurgent Re-
publicans themselves. The Senator
had give notice that he would speak
on the Ncwberry case in all his public
addresses. AS spokesman of the
Progrcssives. as a courgc OF the re-
dictionaries as an eloquent voice of
the agricultural interests. he has been
and would have continued to be one
of the most powerful influences i'll the
land Federal Judges do not make
public speeches OH the Newberry
case or rcactionaries or on any OF
the subjects OF legislation which the
agricultural interests are demanding.
Senator Kenyon has been cffectually
silenced.
Senator kenyon's colleagues all APP
prove of him as fit man for the
bench: the bench itself and the bar
will approve OF him: even the re-
dictionaries who arc always willing to
make any sacrifice Tor party advan-
tagcs, while s'cTei.. re&rc:ting that
! isportant lifelong Offices should go
to party insurgents, will openly as
sent to the appointments.
But what will I've the attitude %
that great class OF agricultur's;s of
whom Senator Kenyon has been the
spokesman and the champion? What
will the farmers thnk-and say?
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