Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-11-17
WHAT The FARM BLOC DOES,

Let an impartial Observer teH
the story of the Farm Bureaus
/ mork in Washington. Beginning
1 his third article on The american
! Farm Bureau Federation in the
! November issue of The Worlds
/ Work, John X. Barnes SuySS
In July. last year, President
Harding went to Raritan, y. j., to
spend the Fourth at the summer
home of Senator Frelinshuysen.
Scnator Lodge got word 10 adjourn
thc Senate. The plan evidently was
sto recess the Senate until the House
had passed the tariff bill then call
thc Senator's back to take up that
EmcaSllrc. As it was Il special ScS-
kon of Congress and the passage of
a tariff law was one of the things
Nor which it had been called, that
5ncaSurc would be privileged and
Rake precedence over certain agri-
cultural bills that had gained Il
pIarc we'll up on the Senate calcn-
klar.
almost rs soon as Senator Lodge
bot this word, Mr.. Gray Silver,
Washington Representatives of the
Amcrican Farm Bureau Federation.
hcard Of it. Hc immediately re-
Barred to the Capitol to see Senator
krnyun. then leader of what is now
known as the farm bloc" They
bcsn marshalling their forces. They
knew that the time had arrived
when this new element in national
politics was to be put to the criti-
al test. Mr.. Silver communicated
BY telegraph with the fifteen hun
Bred county farm bureaus in the
american Farm Bureau Federation
ind the next day telegrams began
pOurins in from influential farmers
hrclghout the country protesting
sa!hst adjournment Of the Senate.
Ehcn Senator Lodge presented his
esolution on the fifth the vote was
. 10 "a against it.
THE administration then turned
b another and ADLER leader. Scna-
or Penrose nd been sick but was
hen able to be back in the Senate.
Hc sent out word sunlmoning all
he faithful. AS the previous vote
howcd, there was far from full
Penate. The call now went out from
1hls last OF the big bosses to those
PcnatorS who spend most of their
ime at home and are seldom seen
p Washington except when they
re wanted by the party leaders to
Otc on some measure. When the
Penatc convened On Friday Of the
feek following there was good at
2tndance. The farm bloc leaders
Pad also been busy. Senator PEN
oHc held the floor with motion to
fecommit the bonus bill. On his
t>k was the resolution for adjourn
lrnt. While the debate regarding
Pc bonus was going on Senator Cur
S. Of Kansas. the Republican whip
the Senate, pollcd the members.
r. reported to Penrosc that the res
BN'lon for adjournment could not
9a>>, Senator PcnroSc soon after
ttIrcd to his room, leaving the res
gliIon on his desk. Astute poll
cIan that he was, and able leader.
rcaIizcd that his days Of success
lradcrhip were over.
Inc next day President Harding
nj for Senator Kenyon. The old
'lrrS had failed him. Something
ad happened i'm the Senate that
glhcd hardly believable to him, fa-
ular as he was with the machinery
that body. A new sun had risen.
ne law of gravitation to part lead
that he knew so well had been
"e'' There was nothing for him
10 but turn to this new force. He
"l Tor Kenyon. Senator Kenyon
n'errcd with Gray Silver. There
cFc twelve bills before the Senate
winch the farmers were particu-
y intcrcsted-Somc that they
"u Dccn trying to get passed Tor
''"n years. 1t was agreed that
>N OF these should pass, the farm
T would permit the adjournment
,hc administration desired. In
'nan six weeks, before Congress
noorned on August 25th. the fol
"'S measures were passed: CD
packer and stock yard control
m, w the Cappcr-Tinchcr Bill
I0'Htlng grain exchanges; (3) the
'">'on Of the War Finance Cor