Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-05
TWO DAYS SHOW
NEW FARM BLOC
At STAND Still
PrOgressiveS not Sponsoring
Popular Moves of Pre-
decessOrs of 1912.
ISSUES UNPOPULAR
Program Consists of Destructive.
Rather Than Constructive Features
Move for Nationwide Presiden-
tial Candidates.
(Ry Isaac Gleanl

(By Isaac GregO
Washington, Dec. determination
by trained political experts of the re-
suits Of the two-day meeting of the
so-callcd progressive bloc and its Of
fetal embers indicates strongly that
the bloc is not sponsoring any great
popular movement for Legislative and
other reforms such as made the Pro
greSSive Party in 1912 the greatest
factor in the elections of that year
and made that party'S influence felt
even until now.
This conclusion is reached through
consideration Of the bloc's legislative
program, 50 far as that program has
been promulgated, which shows that
the constructives features of the blOc's
program either will be met by action
of the Republicans or else are not Of
sufficient general interest to arouse
intense enthusiasm among those to
whom the bloc intends to appeal.
The obstructionist features of the
program, such as opposition to the
ship subsidy bill, opposition to the
ESch- h-Cumm;ns act and the tariff law
and such matters are regarded as by
far the strongest features in the bloc's
program. And when it is considered
that few reform movements in this
country have ever been successful
when based on destructive principles,
the conclusion is inescapable in the
mind of trained political observers
that the progressive bloc is not now
headed toward the point where it can
become highly important factor in
the politics of the country.
The movement for national prima-
ries for the nomination Of candidates
for President. which is a part of the
program. has commanded some in
terest but little enthusiasm because
Of the objection that it would be such
an expensive proposition as immediate
" to obyiate the possibility of a poor
man ever being made President of the
United States.
Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson,
William Mckinley, Theodore Roose-
Welt and Warren G. Harding, to speak
of recent Presidents, could never have
entered nationwide primaries and
have made, with their own money or
with money available by their friends
canvasses that would nave required
political organizations in every state
in the Union. William II. Taft, with
the money of his brothers at his dis
posal in almost unlimited quantities,
might have done so.
For this reason, the nationwide
primary proposal is not popular
one and political observers do not be-
lieye the PROGRESSED bloc can enlist
strong support for it, once the prima-
ry objection to It is explained to the
people. -.
The bloc's advocacy of the aboli-
tion of the Electoral! College arouses
only academic interest. So far as sta
tistics show. only two Presidents of
the United States have received ma
ioritv of the Electoral College without
having received plurality of the
votes east for the electors. They
we're Rutherford B. Hayes, who had
= fewer number of popular votes than
| Tilden. but who had plurality OF one
over Tilden in the Electoral College,
and BENJAMIN Harrison who, in 1888
! qot a majority Of the Electoral Col
iepe though he had fewer popular
votes than Grover Cleveland
All Presidents since that time have
had pluralities of the popular vote
| although Buchanan, Lincoln, Hayes
Garfield. Cleveland and Wilson have
been minority Presidents in the sense
that they did not get an actual ma
ioritv of all the votes cast.
The farm program of the bloc un-
doubtedly will comand support from
| the farmers although this VIII be as
counted to large degree by prompt
! action on the part of the Republicans
to meet the demands OF the farmers.
The administration will not go so far,
probablv. as the bloc would go to aid
| the farmers but it probably will 60
! far enough.
Also the bloc's advocacy of the pro
nosal that decisions of the Supreme
Court might be reversed by Congress
does not sem to command popular ap-
proval. If there is one institution In
the country that has been reverenced
| and revered by the people 1t has been
tn United States Supreme Court be-
cause that body has transacted its
! business in an orderly and just man
! lrer, without hint Of partisalfshlp,
! and has made decisions that in nearly
| all cases, have ultimately commanded
tho support of the people: To give
! fckle Congress the right to reverse
decisions such stable body as the