The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-12-14
. = -
WASHINGTON LETTER
by ]. E. Jones.
WHO is THE I" BIG MAN.

WHO is THE BIG MAN"
At the beginning of every new
Administration the President is
counted to be the ''big man" in the
government. Then comes time
when the Secretary of State IS given
most of the credit After that the
Washington observer expects, and
usually finds the knowing prophets
reaching decisions that one of the
lesser lights really is performing as
"star" in the big political show. 1t
did not come .amiss when Mr.. Hoover
from his homs in California declared
that President Harding would sue
coed himself as the choice of his
party for another term in the Presi-
dency. Hoover had to be the spokes
man because he is being played up
by powerful groups of people, in
Guiding the engineers of the coun-
try, as the man who should be Presi-
dent, and as the "big man" of the
present Administration. But it is
too early to become impatient about
this matter, since it is clear that the
new groups that are organizing at
the Capital have more ambitions
than any ancient Caesar-and Cea-
sar was killed on that account.
1t is pretty hard to tell what is
going to happen. "Bloc" and "pro-
gressives" are forming, and prepar-
ing for death grapple with the So
called "old guard" The Senate re-
turned the nomination of Pierce But
Ter of ST. Paul, who had been named
for Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court by President Harding. In
doing so the progressive Senator's"
let it be know that it was their open
ing gun in claiming leadership in
the Senate. Their pronuniamientos
indicate that they will interpret the
voice of the people" as it was spok-
en- in the recent elections. Incident
ally they hope to produce the ''big
man" in 1924.
THE IMPEACHMENT OF
DAUGHERTY
The principal grievence against
Attorney General Daugherty ap-
pears to be that he attempted to
carry on government by injunction"
during the railroad strike. Long
strings of charges have been made
against him, tending to show the
abuse of the power of his Office. All
public prosecutors are apt to be
subjected to this kind of criticism,
and the accusers in the House are
finding it pretty difficult to make out
as strong a case as they expected.
1t has been demonstrated that all
the groups of organized labor oppose
Daugherty, and Administration poll
ticians are inclined to believe that
he is milestone about the neck of
his friend, President Harding. A
great many people seem to honest
~ question his qualifications for the
office he fills, and wish that he would
resign. Notwithstanding all these
rather personal objections it is not
at all clear that Mr.. Daugherty can
be found guilty of having done much
that is out Of the way in his Office,
other than proving himself poor
politician-and something of mud
der.
Daugherty is not lonesome in turn
ing out to be a poor cabinet officer.
Lots of men who shine in local af-
fairs and are considered great Sin
the old home town" fail to get by
when promoted to places in national
affairs. Still, it is hardly a high
crime not to be wise. The Daugherty
matter takes on all the conditions
and atmosphere of a political i'm
parchment, and unless it proves to
be more than that it will have to
fall as did the impeachment proceed
ings in the early days of our Govern
ment, when the Jeffersonian repub-
licans tried to steam roller" the
friends and associates of Chief JUS
tice John Marshall.
ATTACKS UPON THE
POWER ACT
Applications for waterpower Ii
censes sought under the Federal
waterpower act now number 357,
covering proposed development of
II 100000 horsepower.
The Federal Power Commission in
its second annual report states that
nearly one-half of the aggregate
power sought through licenses is
upon the st. Lawrence, where in
ternational questions prevent the
granting of licenses; and upon the
Columbia and Colorado Rivers. A
special investigation is being carried
on in the Columbia River country to