The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-04
Harding and
Group Blocs
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The Intelligencerl

Washington. July 3-President Hard
ing has enunciated a new Interpretation
OF the group or bloc system in con-
gresS
The President recognized as tnevita-
Die the development OF the group Z"
champion particular measures. ana ne
has no objection to the activity tney
may show in putting their legislative
proposals through congress. But he mas
made IL plain that the test as 10 the SIN
cerity OF any group or bloc will depend
entirely upon whether that group uses
it's political power TO bargain with other
groups Is getting sufficient votes 10
put through measures which are not or
national value.
In other words, the farm bloc Is not
fundamentally dtspleastnS TO Mr.. Hard
ing. He would much rather. OF course.
have efficient party organization so that
the party leaders would be qualified 70
give detailed attention to the interests
Of every section and class. But In the
case OF agricultural conditions the Pres
ldent realizes that representatives ana
senator's from agricultural states are
likely TO look at things from much the
same viewpoint whether they are Re-
ipublicans or Democrats. So long as
what the farm bloc demands. however
are in line with the national interest
Mr.. Harding feels that It should have
the fullest support OF the executive
For instance the improvement OF mar
keting conditions. the reduction Of
freight rates and kindred reforms have
Nor their objective a prosperous agri-
sul,ural community and this in turn
means prosperity for all those industries
g,h UNHa
Mr.. Harding was moved to explain hts
views Just the other day IN addressing
privately some Of the representatives OF
farm organizations and farm journals
The President was. OF course, trying to
overcome the opposition OF agricultural
members Of congress to the ship subsidy
bill This opposition has been tradi-
tional and is due largely TO the fact that
the interior sections OF the country are
not interested directly In maritime al
fairs.
Relation OF 3locS-
To the rural districts the expenditure
of money for ships has always seemed
an extravaganza. The President. how
ever. is tackling the subject OF shipping
from q broader aspect than the mere i'm
provement OF conditions in seaport
,cities. He insists that the farmer is
u
fare as a whole. Using as an illusrra-
ton the large sums OF money appro-
priated by congress for good roads
something which the farmer particular
ly has wanted-Mr. Harding declareu
that a merchant marine. properly devel-
oped for America, means good roads on
the seas" Mr. Harding is emphasizing
the fact that shipping routes controlled
by America will mean cheaper transpor-
tatIon for Americas products than it
the routes are controlled by foreigners.
The relationship between low prices
for American farm products and high
transportation rates on the ocean is also
in Mr.. HardingS argument. He says
for example. that II the American farmer
cannot export his surplus because or the
high ocean freight. II will mean the
dumping OF the surplus in the home
market and consequently lower prices
Inside the United States for these same
agricultural products.
The Ship Subsidy.
The ship subsidy situation depends
largely for it's solution on the attitude
lof the farm bloc. The President fro'd
NOW on will say to that bloc that he be-
lieyes they should support the lcri'la-
tion desired by another class whenever
that legislation Is In the national inter
est. otherwise the farm bloc will for
felt the sympathy OF the rest OF the
country when their own measures OF
national interest arc being debated. II
Is not In a bargaining spirit that the ad-
ministration approaches the farm bloc
and courts It's support for ship subsidy
bill but IL Is an attempt TO apply th-
golden rule 10 party groups.
Every body. including the President.
has better understanding to-day of the
why and wherefore OF the bloc system in
congress of particular sections OF the
country are recognized as due largely TO
the advance OF broad and all embracing
leadership. II Is due also 10 the transit
ton period In Republican affairs. The
Passing OF the old leaders Coincides with
the arrival from the west OF new mem.
bers who have not the same faint Ia tn"
effectiveness OF party Conferemc" ami
party leadership as the old timers have
had What Mr.. Harding hopes j. TO c>-
tablish an entente between the numcr-
pus groups in congress so that the ma
tority OF them can gradually be brought
together In frequent conference and
thus welded into party unit agaih
Mere shouting against the bloc or group
system has proven futile chiefly because
the alternatiYe-party organization
offered no better opportunity to achieve
results. Mr.. Harding Is endeaYortng 70
convert symptoms OF party revolution
into processes OF orderly evolution. His
friendly words TO the farm representa-
tives are significant Of conciliatorS
disposition in marked contrast 10 the
hostile tones OF his recent message 70
congress IN which fIayed the bloc sys-
tenn. The President has found IN the
ship subsidy problem an extraordinar,
ppportunity 20 hriu= special groups into
harmony for the national interest n he
succeeds in making the acid test u
every measure sponsored BY special
group. the question OF whether the
measure would benefit the whole coun-
try directly or Indirectly he will have
discovered the leverage which will deal
effectively With n" numerous proposals
OF narrow and I'mltcd worth AZ con-
trasted with those likely 10 ie "f nation
wide value.