Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-09

Washington Jan. 9.-Politics is be.
ginning to crowd the lnternatlona
Conference out OF the l;nehght.
Concern for the political future is
apparent in the ranks Of the Admin
istration and of the Republican ma
jority in Congress and the party lead
ers are taking counsel on measures 10
insure Republican success in the 1SZ2
Congressional election, the primaries
of which are already close at hand.
The conference of Senate and House
leaders with the President following
the dinner at the White House last
night was in reality the occasion OF a
political stock taking. To what en-
tent the Republican party has sue
ceeded and failed in living up to the
expectations of the public and how the
record can be improved this session
of Congress was the central theme
of the discussion.
Acknowledgement Daugherty, Secre-
tary of War Weeks and Republican
National Chairman Adams were there
to give the President and the legisia-
tive leaders the benefits of their poll
tical judgment. The absence of post
moster-General Hays famed for poll
tical sagacity, is noted as possibly
significant if impending retirement
from the Cabinet.
The attitude of the farmers is wor-
rying the party chieftains, the acti-
vities of the agrarian bloc indicating
the extent of rural dissatisfaction with
existing conditions. The forthcoming
agricultural conference is designed to
crystalline program of legislation
that will meet the just demands of
the farmers.
: The ex-Service men are to get bonus
legislation although the Administra-
ton has only the vaguest notions of
how it is to be financed.
The work of the Conference on the
Limitation of Armament is regarded
as big party asset but of itself pro-
baby not sufficient to guarantee VIC
tory in the election. This considera-
tion is due in part the proposal to
rush domestic legislation, adjourn
Congress early and call the Senate
into extra session to consider the
treaties produced by the Conference.
tion, Republicans will retain control
of the Senate. The chief anxiety con
Germs the House, a reduction in the
Republican majority of which is en-
pected in any event. Loss of the House
would embarrass Republican prospects
in 1924.
There is good deal of Republican
insurgency in Congress visuaized
chiefly by the agrarian bloc, and the
Republican leadership, which is con-
servative, is trying out all sorts of
schemes to circumvent it. A special
effort is to be made to end the Sena-
torial career of Robt. NJ. La Toilette
of Wisconsin, who is candidate for
denomination next spring.
As the result of discussions held
Saturday between President Harding
and representative Republican lead
ers after the White House dinner, de-
cislon was practically reached on the
following points:
Early enactment of soldier bonus
bill.
Early assembling of Republican
Senate conference to reconcile any diff
ferences which may be found to exist
IN party councils over the form of
legislation for refunding allied debts.
The two subjects were connected in
the discussion, since the possible in
come Of the debts, it was generally
agreed. stood out as the best chance of
recouplng expenditures for the pro
posed bonus, with sales tax Sue-
gested as the only alternative.