The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-01-06
F AR N B | DC IS
TROUBLE MAKER
At WASHINGTON
Organization Stands In
Way of Party Program
and is Insistant Upon
Own Measures.
By J. E. JONES.

ASHINGTON.-The Republicans
have a party program that they are
very anxious to put through congress,
and it would seem that with COM
Portable majorites in both houses that
there ought to be no trouble about
passing any kind of law that has the
"okeh"-as Mr.. Wilson used to write
it-of the Republican leaders. But
someone has thrown monkey
wrench into the party machinery, and
there is no need to look far for the
perpetrator of the act-because the
farm bloc admits its full guilt. The
farm bloc is made up principally of
Republican senators and representa-
tives; and every one of them will tell
you that they are eager to carry out
their party program. The unfortunate
part of their position, from the stand
point of the president, who has. scold-
ed mildly; and in the opinion of Sec
rotary Weeks who has denounced
them for what he terms unwise
group action" is that the farm bloc
has very definite ideas about what
kind of programs should be made for
the Republican party In one sense
they are like the old-time groups that
were called insurgents" and pro
gressives All the survivors of those
factions are in the farm bloc. But
the farm bloc insists that it is regular
to the 'steenth degree. All it wants
| is program" particular kind of
a program that is just like it wants!
And if the Republican managers have
any different kinds of suggestions to
make, then the farm bloc simply re-
serves the right to revise those sug-
Igestions Like Patrick Henry of DID,
they assert that they are entirely loyal,
and when other Republicans cry" trea-
son" they colby reply: eff this be
treason, make the most of it,"
| In the days when party lines were
tight the constituted leaders used to
drive the members of such organiza-
tons as the farm bloc out of their
party. But there have been great
changes, and to the desultory talk of
. such procedure the farm bloc says it
will give hearty welcome. The farm
bloc is worrying the G. O. P, but
the party is not inclined to break with
its members. But the G. o. P. is
worried, because it realizes that it can
not make party program without
consulting the wishes of the farm
bloc. This means compromises"
and that is the thing the old guard
hates-but it is something that has al
ways been done, and always will be
t done, by the managers of the destinies
a of political parties. Some of the
r provisions of the tax bill were dictated
t by the farm bloc, and in that legisla-
ton the bloc showed that no party
, program can get through congress
that does not have its support. SEN
: ator Kenyon of Iowa, is the recog-
S nized head of the farm bloc, ard he is
: supported by Senator Capper OF
|, Kansas, and a great many of the Re-
S publican leaders in both houses from
: the Middle West and Far West. The
: farm bloc does not represent split
y in the Republican party. On the con-
n trary it is new power"
is Wallace Defends the Farm Bloc.
e While the president and Secretary
Weeks have disapproved of some Of
a the methods of the farm bloc it i:
IS very interesting to follow the course
IS of Secretary Wallace, head of the de
J. partment of agriculture, who ha'
r rallied to the support of the legisla
y ton approved by the farm bloc
n That anyone should be disposed t.
regard such legislation as of the ma
1t ture of class legislation, intended t.
S or having the effect of benefiting on
lie group at the expense of other groups
is is surprising" he declares. 1T is no
E. in any sense class legislation" he con
tinues. Our first task is to brinl
10 agriculture through this critical perio
ne with the least possible damage. Sen
&c ators and representatives from the sur
er plus-producing states appreciate tn
ed gravity of the situation, as, indeed
n do hundreds of thousands of bushes
IT, men who have dealings with the farm
rd er directly or indirectly. 1t is quit
oil natural, therefore. that there shout
'r- be consideration of legislation matte,
nd which might afford relief" TIL
of statement from Secretary Wallace il