Evening star., 1922-07-03
PRESIDENTS VIEW
OF CONGRESS BLOCS
Group System Not Objection.
able When Directed to
National Betterment.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Oloc system In Congress.
The President recognized as newt
able the development OF the group to
champion particular measures and he
has no objection to the activity they
may show in putting their legislative
proposals through Congress. But he
the sincerity Of any group or bloc
will depend entirely upon whether
that group uses its political power to
bargain with other groups In getting
sufficient votes to put through meas
ures which are not of national value.
In other words, the farm bloc is not
fundamentally displeasing to Mr..
Harding. He would much rather. of
course. have efficient party organiza-
tion. so that the party leaders would
be qualified to give detailed atten-
tion to the interests of every section
and class. But in the case of agri-
cultural conditions the President real
ICES that representatives and senators
from agricultural states are likely to
look at things from much the same
viewpoint whether they are repub-
licans or democrats.
Farm Bloc Discussed.
So long as what the farm bloc de-
mands. however, Is in line with the
national interest, Mr. Harding feels
port of the executive. For instance,
the Improvement of marketing con-
ditions. the reduction of freight rates
and kindred reforms have for their
objective a prosperous agricultural
community. and this. in turn. means
prosperity for all those industries
which sell goods to the farmer.
Mr.. Harding was moved to explain
his views just the other day in ad-
dressing privately some OF the repre-
sentatives of the farm organizations
and farm journals. The President was,
of course, trying to overcome the op-
position Of agricultural members of
Congress to the ship subsidy bill. This
opposition has been traditional, and is
due largely to the fact that the in
land sections of the country are not
interested directly in maratime af-
fairs.
President's View Broad.
To the rural districts, the expendi-
ture of money for ships has always
seemed an extravaganza. The Presi-
dent, however, is tackling the subject
Of shipping from a broader aspect
than the mere improvement of condi-
tions in seaport cities. He insists that
the farmer is directly interested In
the national welfare as a whole. Us
ing as an illustration the large sums
of money appropriated by Congress
for good roads-something which the
farmer particularly has wanted-Mr.
Harding declared that a merchant
marine, properly developed for Amer
lea, means good roads on the seas"
Mr.. Harding Is emphasizing the fact
America will mean cheaper transpor-
tation for Americas products than if
routes are controlled by foreigners.
The relation between low prices for
American farm products and high
transportation rates on the ocean also
says. for example. that If the Amert-
can farmer cannot export his surplus
because Of the high ocean freight rates.
it will mean the dumping of that sur
plus in the home market. and. conse-
quently. lower prices inside the United
States for these same agricultural
products.
Ship Subsidy Urged.
The ship subsidy question depends
largely for its solution on the attitude
of the farm bloc. The President from
now on will say to that bloc that he
believes they should support the legis-
lation desired by another class when
ever that legislation is in the national
interest Otherwise the farm bloc will
forfeit the sympathy of the rest of
the country when their own measures
Of national interest are being debated.
1t is not in a bargaining spirit that
ho oIv nj OF a q ~
bloc and courts its support for the ship
subsidy bill, but it is an attempt to
apply the golden rule to party groups.
Everybody, including the President.
has better understanding today OF
the why and wherefore Of the bloc
system in Congress than a year ago.
The outbursts of the representatives
in Congress Of particular sections Of
the country are recognized as due
largely to the absence of broad and
all-embracing leadership. 1t is due
also to the trans'r'on 'ri",'
old leaders comedies WIN the a.ri....
from the west Of new members who
have not the same faith in the efrec-
tiveness Of party conference and
party leadership as the old-timers
have had. What Mr.. Harding hopes
is to establish an entente between the
numerous groups in Congress. SO that
be brought together in frequent con-
ference and thus welded Into party
unit again. Mere shouting against
the bloc or group system has proved
futile chiefly because the alterna-
tive-party organization-offer no
better opportunity to achieve results.
Seeks Orderly Evolution.
Mr.. Harding is endeavoring to con-
vert symptoms of party revolution
into processes of orderly evolution.
His friendly words to the farm rep
ciliatory disposition. in marked con-
ciliatory disposition in marked con-
trast to the hostile tones Of his recent
message to Congress. in which he
aayed the bloc system. The President
has found in the ship subsidy problem
an extraordinary opportunity to bring
apeciaI groups into harmony for the
national interest. If he succeeds in
making the acid test OF every meas
ure sponsored by a special group. the
question of whether the measure
would benefit the whole country di-
rectiy or Indirectly. he will have dis
covered the leverage, which will dea!
effectiyely with the numerous pro-
nosals Of narrow and limited worth
as contrasted with those likely to be
of nationwide value.
Copyright. 1927