Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-20
SOME REPUBLICAN
OPINIONS

RreSSrnen, and republican news
r<,pers are these days furnishing
much campaign material for the
democrats. They not only assail
the tariff bill, but in many cases
other republican administration pol
icies. What can any republican
think of the record of his party
when he studies this symposium OF
party opinion coming from his "
party leaders,? For instance no in
dictnent the democrats could draw
against the present republican con-
gress could be any stronger than
the one drawn by Secretary of War
Weeks when he said that this con-
sress had reached the lowest ebb
of any in the history of the country.
Il was a republican member OF
this congress who fastened upon it
the title of the Do-Nothing Con-
gress-Representative William R.
Wood of Indiana, who or Nevom-
Der II last, on the floor Of the
house declared that Everybody is
giving this congress hell" They
are doing it," said he, because we
have done nothing to stimulate
business. They are doing it because
we have done nothing to give en-
ploynent to the unemployed. They
are doing it because WI have done
nothing to benefit the farmer and
to stimulate the price of the farm
ers' products"
Representative Wood has since
been made chairman of the repub-
lican congressional committee,
charged with the reelection of the
very congress he characterized a
Do-Nothing Congress.
The Boston Transcript, a lead
ing republican paper of New Eng
land, says this is the worst con-
.gress in twenty years" and does
not deserve reelection"
The two major administration
measures before this congress have
been tax revision and the tariff.
The tax revision bill apparently
has pleased nobody, and the late
Senator Penrose declared it to be
a "r1akeshift" and said the work
would all have to be done over
again. With this view, Senator
Snoot, who becomes chairman of
TIE finance committee when Sena-
tor McCumber, defeated for re-
nomination, retires next March,
agreed and declared that there
would be no tax reduction for a
number of years, despite the fact
that members of his party were
Ginning a heavy reduction in taxes
in the present act. 1t will be re-
called that fifty odd republicans
of the house voted to recommit
the bill for further amendment,
thus expressing their dissatisfac-
ton with it.
On the pending tariff bill many
of the ablest republicans in the
senate and practically all Of the in
~fluential republican press are op-
posing it in form or another,
and in most cases openly denounce
it. Even the proponents of the bill
are supporting it in a haif-hearted
manner, and would like nothing
better than to throw it out the win
dow, but it is an administration
I'll. urged by the president to keep
z2ith with the special interests
which supply campaign funds to the
republican organization, and mas
much as these interests were dis
appointed in the tax revision bill
they are insisting that the tariff bill
shall be put through.
Senator McCumber (Rep. N.
Dak.) in charge Of the bill, says
'"U' have often been advised, and
the advice is we'll founded that OF
all times in our history this is the
very worst time to formulate anc
nut into effect a new tariff meas.
ur5."
Senator Frelinghuysen (Rep. N
~. who helped frame the bill, says
II hold that it is moi scientific be
cause of the system on which it i:
based"
Senator Cummins (Rep. Iowa,
saws: 81 think this is the most in
opportune time of all times l have
ever known to enact a general re
vision of the tariff law. If / coule
have had my way I would have al
lowed the existing tariff law Gun
derwood- Simmons law to remain
as the general law upon the sub
ject."
Senator Townsend {sep. Mich,