The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-01-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
By J. e. JONES.
FARM BLOC HOLDS
BALANCE OF POWER

Senator Porter j. McCumber OF
North Dakota will succeed the late
Senator Boise Penrose as chairman of
the Finance Committee of the Senate.
This is the most powerful position in
the legislative machinery of the Go
vernment. Measures that affect the
tariff and taxation pass through this
committee, and it has always been the
practice of this particular group to
practically re-write the bills along
those lines after they have gone
through the lower House.
The farm bloc thus becames more
than ever torment to the Republi-
cans who believe with the President in
"party responsibility" McCumber
Is by reason of geography and self
interest a champion of everything
that the farm bloc stands for. Senator
Penrose was for his political party,
s'first, last and all the time" He de-
tested the farm bloc. But he was SO
astude politician that he consented
to the demands of the farm group in
order to assure success for the tax
bill that was passed this winter.
The so-called "old guard" politicians
in Congress are still asserting that
something must be done to control
the farm bloc" and Chairman Fess
Of he Republican Congressional Com
mittee has decreed that there must be
q campaign Of education" which
oracular remark he follows with a
column or more of advice upon the
subject In all probability the Fees
Campaign of education" will wind up
by the selection Of new chairman of
the Republican committee.
Everybody in Washington knows
very well that the farm group in Con-
gress has enough votes to pass any
bill through Congress that is desired
by the Administration. SAY, there's
the rub"-because their votes are like
wise sufficient in number to kill any
OI&4 t4Aot tA1Cy may OPPOSCe
The farm bloc is composed of some
Of the best men in both branches of
Congress who believe that the agricul-
tural interests of the country should
come first in legislation. That is
their sample program; and it works
its way into nearly every piece of
legislation of national Importance
that comes up.
Members of the farm bloc say that
they are not original in their de-
mand, and they calmly meet all chal-
lengers with a nonchalance that pro-
claims: "What are you going to do
about it," That does not mean that
they are not willing to cooperate with
their fellow Republicans; but it does
mean that in every case the interests
Of the farmers, whether in foreign or
domestic commerce, taxation, trans
portation, marketing, credits. or any
other activity, must be recognized in
every bill before it will receive the
okeh of the statesmen who hold the
balance of power in Congress.
THE ONE-EYED CAR
Is there motorist who has not, on
some suburban road, beheld coming
toward him rapidly a contraption with
but single light, that proved on the
closeup to be full-seized motor car?
Sometimes the light is on the off side,
sometimes on the near. In the latter
case, well and good. You merely get
the impression Of a motorcycle taking
up an undue amount of the road. But
when the loonly illumination is on the
starboard side the deity Of evil luck
must chortle at the mighty good
chance Of sideswipe that will divest
one car or the other Of wheel or two
and fender.
The reason for the number Of cars
that dodge about the streets with but
a single light is bit uncertain. Ad-
hitting that lights will go bad un-
expectly, it seems extremely imprud-
ent to leave the one good or two and
means the avoidance Of both danger
and annoyance. The whole problem
is bit reminiscent of the battered
darkie in an A. E, F. hospital, who
explained: "Ah went to ride between
two motahcycle lights, but it was an
army truck" It is to be feared that
the folks who don't carry two lights
may encounter the same kind of
trouble 1t would be too bad for
notorist to have to page the insur
ance company and doctor because of
the lack of a thirty-cent electric bulb.
BOOTLEGGING
"SACRAMENTAL WINE"