The New York herald., 1922-01-04

oldCh IlOIS SdNdlIy p0CduoC IhS ~
the winner, regardless Of disastrous
country.
The agricultural "bloc" already has<
made itself a power under the dome
of the Capitol 1t has wrung pro-
test from the President Of the United
States. who appreciates the disastrous
results that are certain to follow i'm
position of minority rule in initiating
and accomplishing legislation.
The Presidential remonstrance ap-
parently has fallen on unheeding,
skeptical ears and provoked derision
rather than appreciation of the re-
sponsibility to the country. Of the or
ganizers of the bloc that has elbowed
the arrogant Anti-Saloon League out
of the control of Congress. SO certain
and full fed with power are the pro-
moters of the agricultural bloc" that
they have already started in to force
upon the Government their program,
and it is one that the thinking men
of the country regard with deep con-
Germ.
The death OF Senator Penrose has
provided the "bloc" with an oppor-
tunity to convince the country that
every Government undertaking for the
benefit of the whole people must be
approved by 1t. Unless some method
is devised by the Senate. which, as a
body, has the whole interests OF the
country and not any single part OF 1T
at heart, the "bloc' is going to score
a tremendous victory within the next
two or three days.
Machinery Set Into Motion.
The machinery has been set into
motion for accomplishing this tre-
mendous advantage through the Sc
lection as the successor to the Penn
sylvania Senator Porter James Nc
Cumber of North Dakota as chairman
of the Senate Finance Committee. Mr..
McCumber is one of the charter MEM
bers of the agricultural bloc" He is
now the senior member of the Finance
Committee. Under the archaic and ri
diculous system Of seniority prevail
ing in the Senate he is "in line" for
the craftsmanship OF the most powerful
committee in Congress.
Mr.. McCumber has served four
terms in the upper house. When he
was last a candidate, Almost six years
ago. he was supported by the Nom
Partisan League, a political orgnniza-
ton ostensibly devised as mn agraFian
enterprise that has wrecked the Com
monwealth of North Dakota.
The seniority system, under which
Mr.. McCumber is to be made chair.
man of the Finance Committee. does
not take into account the question of
temperament. fitness. breadth of vis-
ion, appreciation of the manifold in
terests that should properly be con-
sidered in connection with all legisla-
tive projects. The seniority rule
merely prescribes that the man at the
top of the list is alone eligible to sue
ceed to a vacancy caused by the death
or retirement of chairman of COM
mittee.
Automatic Operation of Rule.
Selections of new chairmen or men,
bers of Senate committees are die
tated by ''the Committee on Commit
tees" This body has no choice except
to hew closely to the line of seniority.
tated by the autocratic operation of
this rule, regardless of anything else.
The Committee on Committees" which
will select new chairman of the
Finance Committee and an additional
member, is composed of Senators
Brandegee Comm, Calder IN. ".
Watson 0nd.). McNary (Ore). Elkins
CIV. Va.), McCumber IN. d., Curtis
(Kan). Moses IN. H. and Sterling
Is. d.. This committee will meet
within the next day or two and, In
accordance with the established obso-
lete process, select Senator McCumber
as the new chairman and either Sena-
tor McNary or Senator Frelinghuysen
IN. J) as the additional member.
The majority of the members of the
Committee on Committees" are not
affiliated with the agricultural bloc. The
fact is that most or these statesmen
are not associated with any group en-
gagged in the promotion of class legis-
iation as Is the bloc. But the majority
of the committee do not exercise the
privilege of choosing a man who. in
their Judgment. would measure up TO
the standard established by the late
Senator Pcnrose. who was conceded 10
have been one of the ablest and most
liberal presiding officers of the COM
mittee that passes upon and provides
The financial needs of the Government.
Personally, Senator McCumber Is n
man of very high character. scholarly.
Confined on Pnre Five.