The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-04
RURAL BLOC STILL
 HASLEGS TOSTAND
 UPON, LEADER SAYS
President of National Farm Bureau Being Boosted for Kenyon'S Seat
 in Senate
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau. The Age Herald,
 50O DaVfdsou Ruildiuo


 Washington, February 3.-(Spe- cIal)-The agrarian bloc still has legs on which to stand, it is openly declared by leading members. today. Senator w. s. Kenyon, leader of the bloc, will soon retire to accept a fed eral judgeship. But the bloc will continue to function. It Is probable that Senator Arthur Capper of Kan sas will be elected to the leadership.
 Senator Pat Harrison of Mlssis- sippi was probably wide of the mark when he charged in the Senate that the President appointed Kenyon be- cause of his desire to smash the bloc. For there were outstanding req sons of more substantial character by which the President might have been moved, not the least of these being the fine legal mind of the ap pointee and his sterling worth.
 At the same time, Kenyon has been thorn in the flesh of those repub- higher than party loyalty. Kenyon and others of his type destroyed. for the time being. the old republican party in 1912. So the President. ir- respective of the high motive which prompted him to eliminate Kenyon as member of the Senate. certainly killed two birds with single stone.
 Howard Considered
 But if the prime motive of the ex- ecutive had been the crippling of the bloc, he would not have scored heavily, if at all. As, a matter of fact, the farmers of the country have initiated a campaign having for it's object the seating of J. R. Howard as successor to Kenyon in the Sem ate MT. Howard is a native and res ident of Iowa, a republican of the progressive school, and a friend of the governor.
 Furthermore, Mir. Howard is pres ident of the American Farm Bureau Federation. He could not accept a seat in the Senate without financial loss, for his salary Is S15,000. But as practically all other members of the Senate could make more money in private business, Howard, should he be appointed, and should he ac- cept. would not be solitary or iso- lated in this respect.
 Mr. Howard would probably be more extreme member of the bloc than Kenyon, Tn view of his polse and judgment, could have been. Kenyon is far from a single cylinder ma chine. He could acquire the leader ship of clique organized to secure legislation for a single class But he could not assume responsibility for propaganda having for it's ob- ject the impressing of the farmers that for all their ills the federal re- serve board Is responsible.
 And unlike others of the bloc Ken yon Is able to assume and sustain controversial position on other and more intricate and involved topics.
 HarrisOn's Criticism
 Senator Harrison's contention was political, in all probability but his point was one that could easily be driven home to the people. The President had openly protested against the bloc. On another occa- sion. he had offered a judgeship to Kenyon, leader of the bloc. He was not deterred in his effort to decorate the bench because of his refusal. He made another and more handsome of fer. At last his efforts were crowned with success Kenyon accepted with expressions of gratitude.
 The weak point in Harrison's con- tention was the fact that Kenyon, of lofty soul, according to the Mis- sissippian's construction. could not have accepted any position offered him by tho President, if the Presi- dent, in his offer. was moved through any save the highest considerations.