Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-06-20
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY

Washington, June 2O.-Administra-
ton officials, it became known today
Will be exerted in behalf OF the re-
nomination of Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge, of Massachusetts.
Realizing the national interest
which is being taken in the Massa-
chusetts fight, the administration
leaders feel that the defeat OF Sena-
tor Lodge would result in serious loss
OF prestige and because of the Leading
part which the Senator took in defeat
ing the ratification Of the Versailles
treaty, might be looked upon as re-
Election upon the foreign policy wnlcn
the administration has pursued.
The defeat of Lodge, 1t IS realized
also, would automatically place Sena-
tor William f. Borah, of Idaho, IN
the position of Chairman of the pow
erful Committee on Foreign Relations
unless the seniority rule governing the
selection OF committee chairmen IN
the Senate should be abrOgated. The
opposition which Borah has consist
entity shown TO some Of the major for
eign policies of the administration,
notably the conference treaties, would
create situation which would be eX-
ceedingly embarrassing to President
Harding and the State Department.
In all the rush for government jobs
during the last year and half there
has been nothing like the scramble
that is on just now since it has been
discovered that intoxicating liquor Is
being sold aboard American ships.
Everybody and his brother-in-law, 1t
seems, is after position of bartender.
The amount of salary, which always
heretofore, has been a primary con-
sideration, does not matter IN THIS
instance. There is no question about
where the ships are going. Europe,
China, Japan, the Sulu Islands, Any
where. lust so it is outside the three
mile / nit. Some of the applicants are
barte,,derS who discontinued opera
tionS when Mr.. Volstead found time
to write his well-known law. Some
are relatives of bartenderS and 9TH
ers have nothing more to recommend
them than that they used to patron
ize bartenders in the good old days.
The applicants have beseiged the Cap
itol, particularly those who have had
experience. offering to demonstrate
their ability if they can find some
body who will furnish the necessary
ingredients. 1t may be said secretly
that in some of the offices in the CapI-
tol. in spite of Mr.. Volstead, and in
spite of the record votes, the ingred-
tents are not difficult to locate.
Ii may be now set down as prac-
ticallv certain that Henry Ford's offer
to lease the Muscle Shoals project
from the government will not be ac-
eepted. Both houses of Congress seem
unalterably opposed to it and it IS ex-
tremely doubtful even if Ford should
make radical changes in his offer
whether it would be accepted.
1t appears more likely that the plan
of Senator Norris, Of Nebraska, to
have the government complete the
Muscle Shoals project for the manu-
facture of fertilizer, which by the way
would cost the government no more
than acceptance of Ford's offer, will
be put through Congress. If not at
this session, then very likely at the
next where il will be made one OF the
first orders of business.
That President Harding has COM
mited himself to policy Of party
leadership that will force him as time
goes on to hold a tighter and tighter
rein on political matters is not now
doubted by political observers IN
Washington. Whether he will assume
to the dictatorship that was practlced
bv Roosevelt and Wilson Is question
able. vet ii is certain that he is now IN
position where he is forced to take
charge of things to strengthen out the
respective muddles into which the Sen
ate and House have got themselves.
This is a rather curious develop
ment to those who knew President
Harding as a Senator, as a candidate
for President and during the first few
months of his incumbency as Presl-
dency. Having observed the dictator
ship of President Wilson closely he
hated it cordially and firmly resolved
that if ever he became President ne
would recognize Congress as the SOW
ereign power in the Republic and
would arrogate to himself only the
Constitutional functions of the Exc
cutive.
The truth of the matter is that
President Harding is mad. He is mad
clear through with the Republican
Congress and IS ready for 2 fight to
the finish with the small men in his
Continued on Page SiX1