Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-01
CONGRESS N THE
ELECTIONS.

A LITTLE more than sixty days
"a from now will come election
day, and congress is still in session
with little chance for adjournment
for another thirty days at least. 1t
has done very little of importance.
Most of its important legislation,
like the tariff bill, the bonus bill,
the ship subsidy bill, the anti
lynching bill, and others matters OF
like Importance have not yet
reached the president for his sigma
ture, and if they finally do reach
him it will be just before election.
The do nothing congress" is get
ting sensitive to the abundant crIti-
cism heaped on them ever by the
republican newspapers. They are
not pleased with prospects OF the
coming election. They are ready to
admit in advance that they are 60
ing to lose some of their republican
majority. They are disposed to
criticise the president and the pres
ident is disposed to criticise con-
gress for the depressing outlook.
Mr.. Kerans, publicity agent of the
democratic national committee,
writes US as follows concerning the
outlook:
President Harding, by his appeal
to mgr for legislative meas
ures against future strikes in the
coal mines and on the railroads, has
not succeeded in evading his own
responsibility for the continuance
of the W present conflicts, but has
Enthusiastically thrust the issue into
every political subdivision in which
members of congress are to be
elected next November. This is
the view Of impartial o%nlookers
who have been expecting this move
from Mr.. Harding.
The effect of what President
Harding has done in his attempt to
make congress share the difficulties
and criticism which his vacillation
and procrastination have brought
upon him is to involve the legislat-
i've branch as we'll as the executive
department of the republican ad-
ministration in the hopeless mud
die. But apparently the republican
senators and representatives are
going to contribute nothing to res
u the president or the country
from the chaos into which both
have been plunged by the republi-
can attempt to play politics with a
grave industrial crisis.
The talk of a recess of congress
heard weeks ago is still heard after
the echoes of the presidents call
for help have died away. Republi-
can congressman are resolved to
let the presidential recommends
tons, such as they were, lie in cold
storage until after the strikes have
been settled not only without the
administrations assistance but in
spite of its m~ishandling of the
whole situation. The republican
politicians in congress have already
let it be known through the Asso-
ciated Press that all Mr.. Harding's
proposals, except that for the crea-
ton of a commission of inquiry
into the coal industry, would go
over until the next election of con-
gress'-which means until after the
election.
Republican senator's and repre-
sentatives who go back to their
bailiwicks TO stand for reelection
will find that President Harding's
call upon them for a remedy for the
country's industrial troubles, pres
ent or prospective, has preceded
them home. Besides all the other
issues which are already confront
ing them, these republican candi-
dates for congress will have to face
the issue of the administrators ut
ter failure to terminate the big
strikes.
Until President Harding went to
the voters were asking, al
long range, why doesn't the White
House settle this thing?" They
now will be demanding-and at un-
comfortably close quarters-"Why
haven't you congressman stayed on
the Job and unsnarled this tangle
the president has got us into2"
In short, the whole problem OF
the strikes was confined within the
walls of the White House until'las'
Friday. Then President Harding
carried it to the capitol and put II
in the political pasture of every re-
publican in congresf. There it will
&emain, to provoke the ssrutiny and