New-York tribune., 1922-11-10
The Lesson for Republicans

Republican leadership the main
force of Tuesdays reaction was
aimed. 1t is unquestionable that it
was in large part a vote of protest
against the last two years at Wash
ington. Unless Republican leader
ship is devoid of imagination and
courage 1t will look the results in the
eye and seek to benefit by the criti-
cism which they offer.
The Tribune does not profess TO
have the ability to interpret tn con-
fused and contradictory votes of this
election as yielding any definite mes
sage or outlining any complete plat
form for Republican action in the
next two years. 1t does desire to
submit several general observations
which seem to it inescapable.
The first touches the Fordney
tariff, its substance and the manner
Of leadership which enacted it. 1t
was not universal issue in the elec-
taon, by any means. But it clearly
played a part in New York and in
parts Of the Middle West. Only
leaders deaf. dumb and blind to
criticism could have expected any
thing else. Seldom has there been a
more notable revolt within a party
than that with which the Republican
press of the country greeted the
framing Of this law. 1t was Justly
termed perversion of the doctrine
Of protection, product of bartering
between sectional groups, utterly
enscientific in its rates. Leadership
worthy of the name would never
have framed such law.
1t is the weakness OF President
Harding's theory of our government
tai system that he felt bound not to
influence the action Of Congress.
When the Fordney bill came before
him as a thing accomplished he
argued that the elastic clauses of the
Law were sufficiently important to
outweigh the evils Of the bill. He
accordingly signed it. The Tribune
opposed the bill in Congress and
urged the President to veto it. 1t is
confident that its advice was sound
economics and sound politics. At
best he could belatedly and piece
raeal remedy bad job. The more
important question now is how such
jobs can be done right in the first
instance.
The failure Of Republican leader
ship in respect to the tariff was per-
haps the most fragrant, but it was
not the only one. II was typical of
confusion that tended to psrvade
Congress throughout it's sessions and
that MIR. Hardine's right of veto
was powerless to affect.
Now, the most striking fact in the
eleetion returns is that the difficult
ties OF the party will be increased in
the next Congress, not lessened.
That spirit Of insurgency which
bIazes up in the agrarian states
whenever there are poor crops or
poor markets swept far and wide in
the Middle West on Tuesday. There
was radical tinge to its leadership
in spots, but radical is most in
accurate word to apply to the voters
who participated in it. They are
farmers In mood of discomfort, and
they are, historically, as Republican
as any New Englanders. The farm
bloc has been force In the present
Senate. 1t will be trebled in the new
Senate; win, IL 1t can unite its
rather centrifugal forces, hold the
balance of power between the Demo
Gratis and the more conservative Re-
pubiicans.
The warning which the arrival of
this group utters to the Republican
leaders is unnnistakable. 1t has come
before often enough in the history Of
our politics--the last time in the
years before 1912. 1t is plain case
OF insurgency within the Republican
rarty and it offers the same possihil-
ity of a cleavage that will leave its
mark on the party for years.
The problem which President
and the leaders of Congress
face is the problem of maintaining
united party through this period of
revolt. In so Tar as the proposals of
The farm bloc are extreme and un-
sound economically they cannot be
considered by o Republican party
that has fought free silver and eco
aonlic failacy generally. But the
great body Of Republican voters who
sleetcd these Senators are neither
radicals nor extremists. They want
,nly reasonable action, whatever ex-