The New York herald., 1922-07-27
Seven Democrats Support
Bloc, Eight Republicans
Turn Against It.
AMENDMENTS DEFEATED
Debate, Harking Back to 1912,
Brings Clash When News
papers Are Attacked.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoHK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., July R6,

| New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, d. c., July 20. I
BY series Of decisive votes the
Senate to-day adopted the high rates
on raw wool in the Fordney- Met Cum
Der tariff bill, surrendering completely
to the demands Of those Senator's who
are interested personally in the raising
of sheep.
No such spectacle has taken place
in the Senate since 1916. when the
Adamson eight hour. law was put
through while the chiefs of the rail-
road brotherhoods sat in the galleries
with their watches in hand to make
sure that they got what they wanted,
and on time.
| The adoption Of the raw wool rates
followed sensational debate. brought
on by Chairman McCumber Of the
Finance Committee. who attempted to
minimize the newspaper opposition to
the bill by charging that the newspapers
were influenced by selfish motives. In
1912. he declared. the Republican press
of the country threatened, because the
Finance Committee refused to put news
print paper on the free list, to wreck the
Republican party. thing which II
pr omptiy proceeded to do, bringing about
the defeat of William H. Taft.
Democrats Defend Press.
The charge that the Republican news
papers had so sold themselves out in
stantly brought demands from the
Democratic side OF proof that such a
threat ever had been made. Senators
Robinson (Dem., Ark.) and Stanley
(Den.. Ky.) defended the press against
the attack. declaring that. important as
the wool rates might be. they could not
approximate the gravity of the accusa-
tions by Senator McCumber
Senators Smoot (Rep.. Utah) and
Watson (Rep.. Ind.) attempted to up
hold Chairman McCumber In the
charges, telling of meetings between
Senate and House leaders and repre-
sentatives Of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association when the issue
Of news print was before Congress. Sem
ator Watson declared that Herman Rid
der OF New York. then president OF the
association, offered to make Uncle joe
Cannon President Of the United States
IL he would let the House vote on the
issue OF the entry of news print paper
free of duty.
"Uncle joe" according to Senator
Watson. who said he was present at
the meeting. put Mr.. Ridder out OF his
office, but not before Mr.. Ridder threat
ened to destroy him as a member OF the
House and also to destroy the Republi-
can. party.
Senator Robinson. In defending the
press. said he knew of no Republican
newspapers save "the Munsey publica-
tions" which supported other than the
Republican nominee, Mr.. Taft. Mr.
Munsey's newspapers. he said. supported
Theodore Roosevelt. No charges were
made against the Munsey publications.
The editorial in THE NEW YORK
HERALD to-day condemning not only the
wool schedule in the Fordney- -McCum-
ber bill. but also the ring OF Senator's
personally interested in wool growing,
was read into the Congressional Record
by Senator Heflin (Dem.. Ala).
Bloc "Lobbying' on Floor.
He praised THE New YoRK HERALD as
a great newspaper, telling the truth, and
declared that the activities of Senators
to further their own interests with high
rates on wool was a perversion of au-
thorty never intended by the trainers of
the Constitution.
Throughout the fight over the wool
schedule the Senator's heavily interested
in wool growing, particularly Senators
Gooding (Rep.. Idaho). chairman OF the
Senate Agricultural tariff bloc, and Bur-
sum (Rep.. N. M were on their feet
continuously. lining up votes for the
rates. They went up and down the
aisles, much as they would at a politi-
cal convention. patting friendly Senators
on the back and lobbying on the foot
for the rates. Whenever a Senator op-
posed the duties they followed him up.
stood within a few feet OF him and in
terrupted his talk whenever 1t was pos
sible.
Cant ! talk for five minutes with
out being interrupted?' Senator Lenroot
demanded several times during his
speech for lower rates. whats the
matter that a Senator cannot speak
Continued on Pare FOur.