The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-05-22
TO HAVE
WEARY|NC SUMMER
tSEeSloN DEALING WITH THE
TARIFF AND BONUS SURE TO
Be WARM IN TWO WAYS.
| ExAGGERATIoN OF DEBATERS
Their Extravaaant Statements Con.
corning the Customs Measure Lead
One to Doubt the Existence Of
Statesmanship In Either House.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK


~
e BY EDWARD 8. CLARK
Observation-Disclosures has settled
down with surface cheerfulness to
an all-summer session of the tariff,
q, warm session likely in more than
one meaning of the adjective. At the
present moment bonus is a marching
companion Of the tariff, If the pace
at which the customs measure Is pro-
ceeding can be called a march. Later
the tariff must go it alone.
1t Is asked frequently If there are
statesmen In Washington. Every men,
Der Of, congress If asked the question
probably modestly would decline to
answer. The majority Of the people
must judge as to the statesmanlike
qualities Of their representatives and
senators In congress, and, for that
matter. of their President and his
cabinet officers. Sometimes it is hard
for one to believe that there can be
anything like craftsmanship In either
house when he is compelled to listen
to certain utterances which come from
the neighborhOod of this seat or that
seat.
! For instance, the tariff measure has
been pronounced by some of its spOn-
sors to be the greatest economic lib
orator of a people which ever was
framed or conceived by man. Some
opponents Of the tariff measure have
declared It to be disruptive Of Amer
lean economic conditions, the last
word Of appeal for the humiliation
Of all that Americans commercially
hold dear.
When you get expressions like these
from leaders on the one hand and on
the other. is it possible that there can
be lurking belief in anybody's mind
that craftsmanship exists anywhere
under the dome Of the capitol Of the
United States7
No One Believes This Extravaganza.
1t is not probable at all that any
Republican believes the tariff measure
lis a proposed legislative enactment
second only in Importance to the
american people to the Declaration Of
Independence. Neither Is it probable
at. all that any Democrat who stands
opposed to the bill believes 1t will dy-
Mantle American commercial institu-
tons out Of existence and bring to
this country a condition of something
like that which today exists In En-
rope.
Some congressman do not put in
much time at the thinking job. Any
even near statesman probably realizes
that the extravagances Of expression
which have been used by both sides
in connection with the tariff bill SIM
ply will appear ridiculous to humor-
loving Americans. When a senator or
q representative breaks loose he knows
no restraint, save In rare Instances,
for admission must be made that there
are few men in the employment Of
the people Of the United States who
can deal in words Of moderation and
yet of strength and who do not find 1t
necessary to attempt to make the
well-known welkin ring every time the
tongue Is moved to action.
There will be all kinds Of things
said In all kinds of voice tones before
the tariff bill for good or Ill shall be
passed by the American congress. In
o great measure the debate will be
droning, but there will be touch Of
vivacity now and then and perhaps
something Of real strength in a few
OF the appeals which are to be made
for or against the measure which now
is in the keeping Of the senate Of the
United States.
In the main, however, when a tariff
discussion Is on the galleries Of the
United States senate offer a seductive
retreat for persons afflicted with in
somnia.
No More Free Lemonade.
!! Congress In summer this year in
way will be a fairly pathetic figure, be-
cause economy has come to town, and
no longer will the cooling drink of
lemonade made from the fruit Of the
tree with the addition Of this mineral
water or that mineral water be dis.
pensed without price to the thirsty
sufferers.
Once upon a time when the first
linen suit made its appearance In SEN
ate and house the lemonade pitchers
came along with It, Congress in the
old days dispensed cooling and
really necessary hospitality to itself
and to certain of its satellites. For
a year or two, however. congressman
havo concluded that the forcing of
ECONOMY In the government depart
ments can be carried through more
consistently II 1t shall deprive itself
of certain things which some people
call 'luxuries. but which In the sitting
capital in midsummer are really ne
cessities.
Most of the members Of congress
are FESTIVE because Of the tariff bill
delay. The house members and some
Of the senate members are anxious to
yet back to what one believes are
called the hastings. The COMPRESSION.
al campaign will be on shortly, and it
may be that those whose seats are in
danger must decide between criticism
which will come to them for leaving
tho canitoI and the threateninpS Of