Evening star., 1922-04-26
DEMOCRAT TARIFF
STRATEGY SHOWN
Minority Seek to Stigmatize
Bill as UItra-Protection
Measure.
BY n. o. MESSENGER.

Debate on the tariff bill in the
Senate has progressed sufficiently to
disclose the line of strategy to be
pursued by the democrats in making
things uncomfortable for the ma
.jority party and the administration
in the coming national and state CAM
paigns' and elections. Reading be-
tween the lines. there is discerned an
apparent effort to stigmatize the
pending republican legislation as an
ultra-protectionist measure, the ef-
to the consumers.
1t is quite evident that the demo-
Gratis in the Senate are studying the
rates in the bill reported by the
finance committee and that some of
them are equipping themselves with
technical information to sustain
charges which they will bring for
ward to embarrass the majority.
Moreover, notice has been served that
record votes will be demanded on
scores of items, SO as to draw-politi-
cal lines of division sharply.
All of which has given rise to the
thought that the minority is enter
tanning hope that political history
may repeat itself and the republicans
go before the country on the eve of
a congressional election with tariff
law which the democrats may have
succeeded in representing as op-
pressively protective in effect.
Election Issue Foreseen.
The democratic leaders have dis
claimed intention of unduly prolong-
ing debate or delaying final action
on the bill, but if they carry out
their plan of thorough discussion
and analysis" all signs point to final
enactment at a date very close to the
elections and certainly making the
tariff a live issue in the heat of the
campaign.
Both democrats and republicans are
cognizant of the present state of
the tariff question. This Inertia of
popular interest may be overcome,
however. by the full and free debate
which the Senate rules permit and
the carrying out of consistent pro-
gram of hammering away on the
charge that the cost of living may
be increased by the republican tariff
The democrats are said to feel that
if the soldiers bonus bill passes
Congress in form threatening any
kind of increased taxation it will
provide them with another string to
their bow to speed home the charges
that the party in power has added
to the burdens of living. The fact
that there will be democratic votes
for, the bonus Is held to be over
shadowed by the assertion that the
dominant party is responsible for the
laws.
Speculation is current in political
circles in both camps as to what will
be the effect upon the voters should the
tariff bill not be enacted before election
day. 1t is engendered by the con-
sideration that the contest between the
House and Senate, over the basis of
valuation-foreign or American
promises to be SO acute that enact
ment may be delayed.
Democrats say they expect to have
the republicans on their hip" in either
event-whether the bill is passed or
delayed. In the latter contingency
they would reproach the majority party
with failure to live UP to it's platform
pledge and in the former would as
sail the law at all points.
If the House should win in it's con-
tention in behalf of the American
valuation plan. it is said that the demo-
Gratis would use campaign capital sup
piled by republican senator's them
selves to sustain the charge that the
law is ultra-protectionist in nature
bate over the bill will be, it is said,
the Senate's proposal to invest the
President with power to arrange tariff
duties to suit eXigencies which may
arise. Democrats are showing signs
of opposing this proposition.