The Washington herald., 1922-08-14
See Tendency to Blame
Administration for In
dustrial Strife.
TARIFF ALSO MAY
ROUSE DISFAVOR
President Will Avoid
Drastic Action in Pres
ent Crisis.

What will be the political effect OF
the coal and railroad strikes?
This is the question Of chief con-
cern at present to political leaders
arousing anxiety among the Repuo-
licans and hopeful expectations among
the Democrats. That the result OF
the Congressional election next No
yember may be determined by the
sentiment created by these strikes
and the efforts Of the Harding ad-
ministra ton to settle them has be-
come a probability that Is entering
into the calculations of both major
parties.
May Blame Reconsideration.
One of the principal Republican
campaign managers said yesterday
that In his opinion the fate OF the
Republican party at the polls this
year depends upon the industrial sit
uation at the time of the election
and upon the public judgment Of the
record of the administration in deal
ing with strikes. II strikes continue
to hamper business and incommode
the public generally and the political
atmosphere becomes surcharged with
the feeling that the ADMINISTRATION
is to blame for not averting or min
imizing these Industrial disturbances.
the Republicans, he admitted, are
likely to fare badly in the election.
They might lose the House and suffer
a marked reduction of their majority
in the Senate.
The strikes have greatly aggra-
waited a situation already regarded
by Republican party chieftains as too
threatening for comfort.
See Growing DIscontent
The evidence of widespread dis
content. of dissatisfaction with the
administration (no matter how un-
justly conceived). has been unmis-
taxable. Conservative Senators and
Representatives. standing for all the
administration stands for, have been
routed In the primaries by progressive
and radical Republicans. standing for
much-if not everything-that Is abb
horrent to the administration.
The Republican purimary in hOio,
where the Progressives and radicals
went down before the Presidents own
faction in his home State. is the
ministration.
Resent High Freight Rates
1t is a. recognized political phe-
nomenon That to the party in power
is accorded the credit or blame for
existing conditions. Even a crop
failure has been known TO defeat
a party at the polls. This year the
crops are bountiful and there will
be no discomfort among the farm
ers on this score. They are" getting
also the high protective tariff on
their products they want. Such dis
satisfaction as exists arises from
high freight rates. the disturbance
of transportation -w which hampers
the marketing Of farm products
and the feeling that the farmer has
been made the chief victim of the
process of postwar deflation.
Outside of those who regard
themselves directly benefited by
high protective duties, the McCum-
ber-Fordney tariff bill seems to be
far from popular. Not a few Re-
publican leaders fear its influence
on the election. If, therefore. Con-
gress should be out OF favor be.
cause of its record on legislation
and the administration should be
out of favor because of its record
In dealing with the strikes, the Re-
publican party will go to the polls
under heavy handicap.
The coming election will have an