The Washington times., 1922-11-11
ON
HILL FACE
SHAKE-UP
Old Leaders Too Reactlonary
and Progressives Are
Needed, Is View.
BY JAMES r. NOURSE,
Universal Service.

leadership in Congress for the
disastrous overturn in last Tues
days election.
Long and frank discussion of the
election results at yes'erday's Cabi-
net session developed this conclu-
.ion-that responsibility for the
debacle lay at the doors of Congress
rather than upon the White House,
and that Congress- failure should
not be charged against the Presi-
dent.
Congress Held Reactionsry.
Congress and not the Executive
has been the reactionary factor In
this Administration, according to
the Cabinet view. The reactionary
character OF legislation enacted and
failure to act upon proposed meas
ures OF progressive character
brought the rebuke from the vot-
ers. according to this opinion.
which is held by the Presidents
immediate council of advisers.
Those holding this view point out
that President Harding has enter.
tained opinions far more liberal
than those hold by the ruling lead
ers in Congress-. For example. It
Is pointed out. he stood for a sales
tax and for a soldier bonus prop.
erly financed, and for other meas
ures which were repelled by those
In control. Congress refused to
enact a sales tax law, and In it's
stead passed a law which removed
the excess profits taxes from big
business without in any way light
ening the tax burden on the com.
mon people. 1t "gyped" the Presi.
dent on the soldier bonus question
in advance to be hostile to the
President's views because IL pro-
vided no method OF financing the
bonus payments.
Earned Drubblns. Is View.
In these and other ways, the
Presidents advisers contend. Con-
gress earned the drastic druobing
II received at the hands Of thss
within II the party is to be held
In shape for the 1924 contest.
The first concrete result of the
acceptance of this view of Congress.
sional responsibility for the election
overthrow is expected to be a drive
from the White House for a new
leadership In both Senate and
House.
Mondell, who was House leader,
already has passed into the discard
by reason of his defeat for the Sena,,
torship in Wyoming by Kendrick,
Democrat. Longworth or "Jim"
Mann may take his place; who
ever Is chosen must be acceptable
10 the White House and must take
q pledge in advance to lead the
House away from reaction and Into
the lines Of progressivism.
Lodge, now serving as Republican
leader In the Senate, probably will
20, either by resignation on account
Of his health and desire for less
strenuous tasks, or by direction of
the progressive group that is going to
hold ths~balance OF power in the
Senate.
WadswOrth Is Mentioned.
wadsworth, of New York. II &C.
ceptable to the progressives. may
take his place; II not. II may be
Pepper, OF Pennsylvania, who is
trying hard to be O progressive de-
spite the fact that he stepped into
the shoes of Penrose. or II may be
Capper, Of Kansas. n dyed.in.the.
woli progressive and leader OF the
Farm Bloc. Curtis. OF Kansas. and
"Jim" Watson, of Indiana, are not
20 be considered. because both have
been too long affiliated with the
reactionary crowd to please either
ftidtiofis The White House will In.
sist upon leader with some elements
OF progressivism In his system.
Published reports that President
Harding would assume the leadership
In reorGanising his party created
laugh at the White House because
OF this view that II is Congress, NOT
the Executive, which Is In need of
reformation and th'.s Congress is
the branch OF the Government which
has become reactionary.
The influx of the large group of
liberals into the Sixty.eighth Con
kress will open up the avenues of
legislation to q very imposing pro.
gram of progressive measures. The
Progressive Republicans, independ.
ents and Democrats probably will
combine to put some Of these meas.
ures through over the heads OF the
Republican majorities.
Rail Law Repeal Sought.
First Of all among these proposals
A repeal of the Esch- -C0mmins law
regulating railroad transportation.
Senator La Toilette made his trium.
phant campaign on this isste, and
several others among the new Sena.
tors are pledged 10 work for the
laws repeal, among them being
Brookhart Of Iowa, Shipstead Of Min.
s1esota, Frazier OF North Dakota and
Howell OF Nebraska.
II II is found there are not enough
votes TO bring about repeal OF the
law, modification OF the law In Ger.
tain. The farm bloc will demand re.
neal OF the rate guarantee section,
restoration OF the powers of the In.
terstats Commerce Commission, and
perhaps abolition OF the labor board
section.
Other measures on the Progressive
prokram which are certain 10 De.
mai,d attention In the new Congress
prc. Modification Of the Fordnay.
McCumber tariff law; unseatins OF
Newberry, in case he does not resign
in the meantime; seating OF Victor
uerser Socialist member.elect from
wisconsin. equalization OF the tax
laws, publicity OF income tar returns,
l..A ll.s A...I