The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-02-06
Presidents Sagacity Cred
tied With Hating Peril
of Farm Bloc.
HEARST ENTERS FIELD
Reported He Is Headed Toward
Getting Control Of Demo-
cratic Organization.
ny LOUIS sErBoLD.
ny LVUIS SETbOLDs
Special Dispatch to THE NEw York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Feb. 3.


Special Dispatch to THE Nnw York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Feb. 8.
In approaching the preliminaries of
the coming Congressional elections
both the Republican and Democratic
parties are confronted with problems
that never before existed.
Tie Republican leaders, both in and
out of Office, are encountering wide-
spread wave of dissatisfaction, due to
natural causes consequent upon con-
ditions in the making OF which they
had neither voice nor hand.
The problems involved have up to
date resisted attempts at agreeable
solution. The result is that most of
the groups which formed alliances of
convenience in the last Presidential
campaign ere expressing dIsappoint-
nent and threaten reprisals for various
causes. partly rational but mainly
illogical. To some extent this condi-
ton of affairs is due to lack Of team
work between the executive and legis-
lative branches of the Government.
.seflects More Credit ON Harding.
This phase of the matter is held by
impartial judges to reflect rather more
credit on President Harding, the titu-
lar head of his party, than on the
majority that rode into Congressional
power on the wave that gave him the
largest popular vote ever recorded In
a Presidential contest.
The President is credited with hav-
ing attempted to hold the majority in
Congress to the responsibilities as
sumed by the party in bidding for
popular support. He is further cred
tied with having tried to keep the
majority in Congress solidified on fun
damental issues instead of submitting
to coercion at tho hands OF cleverly
organized groups like the Anti-Saloon
League, the agricultural bloc, the
bonus propagandists and other units
asserting the privileges demanded by
noisy minorities.
Up TO date the President has not
been conspicuously successful in this
undertaking. Senators and Represen-
tatives of the party have indicated
much more concern over their indi-
vidual chances for reelection than in
cooperating with the executive de-
partment In trying to make good the
promises of the last campaign.
The recent test of strength between
the most important Republican lead
crs headed by the President and the
agricultural bloc in Congress reveals
only too clearly the tendency of Con-
gressmen to ignore and even renounce
party ties and bid for the support Of
elements which are temporarily dis
satisfied with the party in power.
Power of Group Influence.
The panic among Congressman OF
both parties over the threats of re-
prisals made by promoters of the
bonus contributes additional proof Of
the supremacy of the group influences
over those OF the regular and profess
sional sort. The demonstrations made
by the various blocs have forced the
President and other party leaders to
temporize with situation which
might easily have resulted in a politi-
cal revolution. The President is cred
itcd with having displayed unusual
political sagacity In heading off gen.
uine revolt. His acceptance of the
principles advanced by the farmer
group, his abduction OF Senator Ken
yon. the leader Of the agricultural
bloc-and potential Presidential can
didate--has i'm the judgment OF leaders
averted serious party disaster, for
the time being at least.
IIfe cotfrSe m y,ncatinrp he vrohy,,x,
involved reflects with unmistakable
force his determination to hold his
party together even at sacrifice of
personal prestige. which would an
doubtcdly be much greater if h. ac-
lively asserted the right Of leadership
after the fashion of Theodore Rcose-
welt and Woodrow Wilson. There Is
no question In the minds .if .he leaders
of both parties that the President
could hold the majority in both houses
OF Congress to their responsibllitit IL
he cared toyexercise his power.
His reason, for not resorting 10 II
provokes a division of opinion. The
leaders OF the various blocs interpret
his pacific methods in dealing with
Congress as rejecting timidity. His
friends and supporters, however. point
to his record as proof of the wisdom
of the policy of mpronise--"follow-
ing the line of least resistance and
trusting to luck" Is the way they
put 1t.
Whatever the Presidents motive
may actually be, II is quito certain that
his method of dealing with the aGgrcs-
sive blocs and their timid Congress
sional followers Is viewed as triumph
FOR his affable philosophers. That his