The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-12-29
SHIP SUBSIDY
GAINSGROUND
IN CONGRESS
Bill Will Pass Senate Within
Fortnight, Leaders Who
Canvassed Situation
Believe.
BIC FIGHT FOR HARDING
Must Hold Republicans in Unit
Against Obstruction of
Blocs-Vote Will
Be Close.
BIG FIGHT FOR HARDING
By DAVID LAWRENCE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The Ship
Subsidy bill will pass the Senate within
the next fortnight. according TO the ad
vices given the administration within the
last few DAYS by leaders who have made
a careful canvass of the whole situa
ton.
The fight TO dispiace the ship subsidy
measure with a farm credits bill has
been going on for several days with the
administration getting stronger and
stronger. Although President Harding
has ostensibly been absorbed in dealing
with the delicate problems OF European
economics, the truth is, he has been
making the fight Of his career To hold
the Republicans in a solid unit as against
the obstruction of the various blocs.
There are some senators who do not
favor the subsidy bill itself and who viii
vote against it on final passage, but ths
administration has succeeded in convinc-
ing MANY of them that irrespective OF
the merits of the subsidy bill they ought
not TO lend themselves to the campaign
of the filibusterers and obstructlonists
who have thought they could kill the
subsidy measure by keeping ii from get
ting 60 a vote.
The fear of insurgent members OF the
Republican party who have set out on
a campaign of obstruction and destruc,
tion of the administration has been that
the subsidy bill would have enough
votes on the final roll call to be passed.
They have interjected the Norris Farm
Credits bill as an effort TO displace the
subsidy me tasure and give the shipping
bill such d psychological blow as 10
weaken its champions and quietly smoth,
er the whole proposal. But the admin,
istration has realized that if it were un.
able to force It's own pet measure TO
vote it would be a confession of impo.
tence which would make it impossible
to get any other legislation through this
Congress or perhaps the next.
The test has meant a great deal TO
Mr.. Harding. His lieutenants in the
A., Senate have made good use of this
line Of reasoning; they have said in ct,
feet to some Republicans who are op'
posed 10 ship subsidy and even TO some
Democrats: You may not like the ship
subsidy bill and may want to vote
against il but why do you lend yourself
TO the government by blocs and minority
rule2 If you want to keep on friendly
terms with the administration, here is
a chance to do something for the ad.
ministration without compromising your
own position on ship subsidy. Permit ii
TO come to a vote, give it fair chance
that is all We ask, and vote against
the measure itself if you want to-we
shall not hold that against YOU
This, indeed, solves the problem which
many senators have been worrying about.
They didn't want to break with the ad,
ministration and vote against the ship
subsidy but some Of them feel they
must. They can palliate their act TO
some extent by helping the administra'
,ion get the bill TO a vote. Enough OF
them have consented to do this so that
a vote on the ship subsidy seems as.
sured.
As to the final tally, it will be very
close. The opponents of the measure
think they have a comfortable margin
and they insist that as the debate de.
velops they will have more votes be-
cause Republicans will have to make up
their minds whether they will vote
against a party measure or stand by the
administration. The Democrats have
not vet shown their hand. 1t looks as il
only one, or possibly two, Of them will
vote for the bill but the interesting thing
so far is that the Democrats have not be
come a party TO the obstructionist tao
tics Of the insurgent Republicans. The
danger Of such a coalition is that il
might work both ways and that MEASURES
which the Democrats want TO see passed
for the benefit of their respective state:
will not get the necessary cooperation
from Republican Leaders if bipartisan
obstructioniss bloc is formed.
Another phase of the situation is iht
two camps in the Democratic party, the
one interested in radically obstructine
whatever il is possible to obstruct, 50 a:
to hurt the Republican party's chance