The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-21

Harding called the bloc leaders into
conference with him to discuss this
proposed legislation. and it rumor-
ed that he declared he would veto
the measure if passed.
~President Is Right.
A little consideration of the is
sue must, in the opinion of the
Canton tOiho) News tDem.) con
vince most persons that the presi-
dent has all the argument in his
favor. 1t would be extremely I'M
wise to establish a precedent that
would arouse the various organ
izations and interests of the coun-
try to an expectation that they can
secure special favors for them
selves by insisting on represen-
tation on federal boards" The
president would be expected to take
the same stand against any group
that presumed to force the ap-
po1ntment of a steel manufacturer.
say, or banker or a shipbuilder
or a miner or an oil producer"
the New York Herald Und) as
serts. for:
The chief executive could not
administer his Office as it is both
his right and his duty to admins
ter it under the fundamental law
OF the nation if congress prescrib-
ed from what occupations or
classes he must appoint his aids
10 carry out his policies and pro-
grams. He could not do his work
to his own satisfaction or TO the
satisfaction OF the country if con-
gress dictated what he should do
and how he should do it"
The presidents disapproyal of
such a measure will be endorsed.
the Wilkesbarre Record CRep.l by
many people who are not out of
sympathy with the combination of
members of congress to secure leg
islation in the interest of the farm
ers,' not, the Nashville Tennessean
lind. DEM says. because there is
any objection to a dirt farmer or
any other kind of farmer on the
board" but because Legislation
which has as its object the limi-
tatiOn of membership to any one
class of persons is dangerous leg
islation"
Government by Bloc.
But in overstepping the mark by
a proposal (which clearly infringes
upon the prerogatives of the chief
executive" the Brooklyn Eagle
lind. DEM thinks the agricul-
tural bloc has presented the presi-
dent with magnificent opportu-
nifty to strike directly at govern
ment by bloc while asserting his
own constitutionality authority as
well as his authority as head of
the party in power" No other
course is open to him, the Florida
Metropolis Jacksonville, DEM
suggests, than to seize this occa-
sion to regain lost ground, for the
power of his Office is gradually dis
migrating, his influence is wan
ing, his wishes carry little weight
with them. all because he has as
sumed the role of a national UNI
pire rather than the role of chief
executive" Nevertheless by his
stand on this latest development
the Springfield Republican (Ind.)
believes that the president has
made the first really vigorous as
sertion of his party leadership in
opposition to the Independent acdy-
tiles of the farm bloc"
However, the handicap under
which the president in this role
labors" is the very Independence of
the bipartisan group the Republi-
can members of which, the Wor-
cester Telegram tRepD declares,
don't care a boot" They "are not
unpatriotic, they are not exactly
disloyal to the Republican organ
m o.
gram analyses them. they are
convinced that their agricul-
tural constituencies need pro-
tective and remedial legislation,
they are further convinced that
their agricultural constituencies re-
fleet the broad necessities OF the
United States. whereas the neces-
sites of other regions reflect
merely the desires of special and
localized interests, and they are
reasonably certain that no matter
what happens to the Republican
party they will keep right on gain
ing reflections to congress so long
as they keep right on producing
protective and remedial legislation
for the agricultural communities.
sMenace to Business
But bloc craftiness" in the spe-
cific measure under discussion
''menaces our whole business and
financial structure, the Wall Street
Journal Und) warns, for 1t be-
comes law "a person whose bust
ness or occupation is farming would
in time become the governor of the
federal reserve board" and what
is even worse. the scheme is to
make the distribution of credit a
matter of politics" This is "the
evident intention of the farm bloc,
the Buffalo Express Qnd. RepD
agrees. and it must be fought TO
a finish" because the fiscal sys-
tenn can be well secured only when
it is under the control of men who
know banking and the rules which
make for safety and who will not
be moved by political considera-
tons"
AS a. matter of fact, so far as
"class discrimination" is concern
ed. the Springfield (Ohio) News
DEM believes that mo matter
whom the president should select
for the federal reserve board he
would in a sense be catering to
some particular class. II he plac-
ed a farmer on the job the agri-