The New York herald., 1922-01-26


Sag the balance OF their influence on
tlie conservative side for the manifest
l4irpose OF preventing tie alienation
~ the farmer vote by an independent
movement Up to date there has been
no actual test on this point. although
the radicals aye doing their best TO
irecipitate one.
The regular party leaders in and out
Of Congress find one source of salts
faction in the situation. The move
irent has not yet developed an ac-
teptable leader or a program upon
which TO make an appeal to the coun-
fiy. There are, of course. among the
various groups several men who are
acting as a sort Of board of directors
ta consolidate the diversified and not
always harmonious forces into one or
sanization.
Progress I'm Leadership.
The advocates OF the new party
movement are confident. however, that
both leader and program will be de-
Neloped by pending and coming events.
they have made greater progress in
the direction of leadership than in
evolving an acceptable national pro-
gram. BY common consent they ap-
pear to have conferred on Senator
William S. Kenyon of Iowa the title
of leader But they have not con-
suited him about the matter and pre-
sumably have misinterpreted the trend
Of his pronounced sympathies for the
agricultural interests in so far as they
apply to himself.
FNha InvVa Sanqtnr xUhnGa EJ1nnnrf of
progressive principles in politics and
Championship of agricultural ambi-
tions have been consistent and vigor-
Gus disclaims any thought Of plotting a
new political enterprise through the
preliminary stages of organization.
He revealed this fact with mani
lestly sincere emphasis in CONVERSE
r'on with the writer of this article at
The Capitol this afternoon. The most
logical explanation he could furnish
.or the tendency of the promoters of
agricultural political enterprises to
look to him for guidance is that he
persistently has supported the agricul-
.ural bloc. He made 1t clear that he
has not given serious thought either
% the necessity or probability of an
Independent movement predicated on
distinctly agrarian lines. He rather
conveyed the impression that he be-
lleved the Republican party has been
remiss in its obligations to the farm
ing elements and that the time has
come for it to give as square a deal
10 the farmers as it has given to Wall
street and the manufacturers"
4, Renyon's Preference Indicated.
: Suggestions emanating from the
farmers that Senator Kenyon would
he the ideal man to head the next Re-
publican Presidential ticket or one
supported by the agricultural elements
were swept aside by him as unworthy
OF discussion. The Senator rather in
ccated preference for Senate SER
vice or retirement.
He expressed this hope that the talk
about him as a potential Presidential
candidate might be discontinued. His
reason for it was the conviction that
the reactionary influences in the party
which sought to discredit the farmer
movement naturally would seek to
cause division in the agricultural
army. According to Senator Kenyon
there is no leader of the agricultural
bloc or blocs in Congress and farmer
groups outside OF 1t.
He does not even regard the mani
festations already staged as inimical
10 the Republican party. But he does
think the Republican party will lose
most Of the advantages it recently
gained If it fails to heed the Mace
donian cry for help from the rural
belts and Immediately removes the
causes that prompt its utterance.
He believes the Republican party
can hold the farmer vote through the
edoption OF reasonable, wise and just
methods in conceding to the farmar an
equal amount of privilege as they as
Sart has been given to the financial,
commercial and industrial elements of
the country"
Substantial Reason Seen.
Senator Kenyon. of course. would
not admit the fact that the agricul-
turaI groups had conferred upon him
either the title Of leader or pronounced
him the sort of man that should be
supported for the Presidency. But
there is substantial reason to justify
the frequency with which both are
Used both IN and out of Congress.
The reasons advanced by the pro-
Tnooters of the new agricultural ven-
] Ture are that he is a man OF high
ideals. of unimpeachable moral char
acter, an eloquent advocate and merci-
lless critic, and that his record in the
Senate has been consistently favorable
10 the progressive farmers. He Is 52
Nears old, sturdy, vigorous and tre-
fnendous worker.
( lie is serving his second terms In
ifhe Senate. Before that he was a
district Judge in Iowa. He was elected
10 succeed ]. p. Dolliver. Senator Ken
Won was once an Assistant District
attorney. He prosecuted some OF the
most notable violations of the anti
trust laws. and favored the imposition
OF 1ail sentences for offenders instead
OF fines.
From his advent into the Senate he
ehampioned reform legislation" He
reflected pronounced progressive ten
deucies, even though he remained with
the regular wing OF the Republican
narty in 1912. In the last campaign
me advocated the nomination of Sena-
Tor Hiram Johnson. A scrutiny of his
record shows that he supported all
lof the war measures of the Wilson Ad-
Ininlstration and opposed the leader
ship OF Old Guard Republican leaders
before and after the election OF Mr..