The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-08
DEMOCRATS
SEE HOPE IN
TARIFF ISSUE
Believe Changes Wrought by
World War Will Bring Them
Many Votes Say Repub-
licans Insincere.
DISAGREE ON POLICY
By MARK sullivan

WASHINGTON, June 8.-The Re.
publicans say they are going to pass
the tariff bill before the November
election. The Democrats say that the
Republicans are fooling, that they
don't really expect to pass the bill,
but merely want to put the blame fo-
not passing it on the Democrats. Out
siders think that the Republicans
really mean to pass some kind of
tariff bill! as promptly as possible. But
outsiders who have had much expert
ence with tariff sessions would not be
surprised to see October go by before
a tariff bill is on the books.
If. in addition to the tariff bill, the
Republicans are also going to press
the ship subsidy bill, that will involve
an amount of opposition and debate
only short of the amount involved in
the tariff itself and If the bonus bill
is thrown into the works also. that too,
will cause weeks of debate
There is a great deal of delay in
herent in the tariff situation alone
The present bill was first passed by
the house. The senate has already
made some two thousand changes in
IT. One of these changes. which af-
fects the so-called American valuation
plan, is a source of strong feeling be-
tween the house and the senate. The
result of all this will be that after the
senate is done with its debating and
amending, when the bill goes into con-
ference for the purpose of compromis-
ing the two versions from the house
and senate, there will be weeks of
tension. In addition to all this, there
are appropriation bills and some emer-
gency legislation must be taken up.
Too Many "Ifs"
Doubtless 1t is true that if the Re-
publicans would really put their
hearts into passing the tariff bill and
would make everything else subordin-
ate TO it, and if the Democrats on their
part would adopt a policy of facilitat-
ing the passage of the bill, if they
would refrain from prolonged debate
and would content themselves with
merely voting in oppasition-in that
c.aose, possibly the Ia ff could be pass
ed by September But the number OF
"ifs" in all this is formidable
The Democrats are not all in agree
ment as to what their policy should
Ot. oOHlc Ol Iu6Hl Dell6Ne II would De
wise to stand aside and let the Re-
publlcans pass the tariff promptly
This group of Democrats thinks that
if the tariff bill were passed by the
first of September. and if the public
could have two months of experience
with it, they could beat the Republi.
cans in the November elections on this
issue.
Another group of Democrats thinks
II would be best not to waste the tariff
issue on these less important congress
sional elections, but to save it for the
presidential election two years ahead
Those who hold this view think the
best manoeuvre is to prevent the Re
publicans from passing the tariff unit
after the coming elections. One thins
IS clear: the Democrats whether right
ly or wrongly. were never so confident
S they are this year of their ability
10 carry the country on the tariff issue
They say they have almost never fail
ed to carry the country on the tariff
issue; and that now, under the chang
ed conditions in world trade arisins
out of the war, there are more Amer
leans who will be Democratic on thu
tariff issue than ever before-Copy
right, 1922, by the New York Evenins
Post, Inc.