Evening star., 1922-12-06
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

When 1t Is considered that there
are 435 representatives and SO sen.
ators In Congress, the presence OF
thirty-seven democratic and repub-
lican senator's and representatives In
the progressive bloc formed here last
week would not seem such formi-
dable weakening Of strict party lines.
OF course, this Limitation does not
mean that there are not moro men in
each party in tho House and Senate
In sympathy with the-better, per-
haps. say some-policies Of the pro-
posed combination, but the point is
the mass Of those withholding asso-
citation possibly prefer to work TO
the ends in view through party ac-
tion, rather than bipartisan afiiliation.
There is no Ss,'e %", poll ,h.
progressive effort. It may have In
herent elements Of future expansion
and become. like the stone which the
builders rejected. the head OF the corr
ner. But they are now looking at II
tical appraisement and adjudging all
the attendant elements 1t 10 as
sumed that the projectors Of the
movement have in view the upbuild-
ing of a force in Congress, composed
can be swung to the support in that
body OF measure of legislation OF
approved progressive character.
The question which arises is:
What potential political organization
Is to decide the details and merits
Of designated. bill? A democratic
progressive and a republican pro-
gressive. each passionately insistent
upon the right to be called q pro-
Eressive. may have differing views OF
the particular legislation in hand. In
dealing with measures of major i'm
portance in Congress II is the Gus
tom for the opposing political parties
to determine in party caucus. or con-
ference. as the word is applied in
..hhe The Senate, whose members rebel at
whether It is TO be favored or op-
posed. The idea would seem TO be
that II either of the old parties
brought in a bill which was objsc-
tionable. or even unsatisfactory in
scope. to the progressives composing
the bloc. they would unite with the
other party opposing the bill or seek
ing to broaden it to their satisfac-
tion. The effectiveness OF the bloc
in that event would consist wholly
which at present IL not large.
y X x Il
When the oriEinators of this bloc
started they distinctly dlsavowed in
tention of forming a third party.
Some Of the older politicians think
that third party would be the logi-
cal sequence Of the undertaking ana
that the lack OF a hard and fast Or
sanization under a distinctive title
and with a declared objective. for
which 1t could be unanimous. is the
greatest weakness OF the project just
! launched.
Furthermore. it is pointed out by
these men. the new movement comes
just at the time when there Is ap-
parently capitalization OF a dispo.
sit!on among the voters to return to
normal lines of demarcation between
the republican and democratic par
ties. This Is said to have been shown
In the November elections. when rank
and nle returned to their old psrty
fealty.
Opportunity will soon he given
however. for a try-out Of this new
bloc. l. viii occur in the Senate. in
ons.eerirg the pending merchant
; marine bilh It is favored and op-
posed. in both the democratic and re-
publican membership of the Senate.
by individuals. Considered as party
measure. q majority Of the republic
ans advocate IT and a majority Of the
dem ocrats oppose It. It may be call
ed party measure. since 1t is put
forward by the administration party
! in power in both houses.
The bill can be killed by a flir-
: buster. providing It is denounced by
material number OF senators as
, antaEonistic to progressive princi-
pies. The trouble Is that some sena-
ato-s in each party Vino are for the
| bill still claim TO be as good pro-
] would join the progressive bloc on
J some other bills, perhaps. but not
agains: this one.
+; The success Of the late filibuster
; against the Dyer bill was due to tho
fact that 1t was a party filibuster and
there were always enough strict
/ party men to demand . roll call. ana
| then more roll calls. and keep up the
procedure Indefinitely. with men
| ready to make interminable speeches
/ meanwhile. That was a case OF party
! regularity working with inexorahle
i effectiveness. 1t will soon be demon
strat"G whether the opponents OF thu
/: merchant marine bill can rally a CO.
/ hesive bipartisan force to effect a
I similar purpose as WAS accomplished
by a party lineup. Opinions are con-
J Trajectory on this score. the weight
! OF opinion seeming to be that IL the
enemies OF the proposed iegislation
1 - hnl II OF cpS1 S<,
| a compact organisation they can. with
! the pressure of public business Keep
| the bill from reaching a vote.
| Anyhow. it will be very interesting
! to watch the practical process Of the
(; anti marine bloc. which
progressive bloc.
1t is the popular practice of poll
| tic.ans to jeer when mention is made
of the possible candidacy Of Henry
Ford for the presidential nomination
on the democratic ticket. They ex-
hibit an incredulous state OF mind, as
| If such a thing were impossible. the
rebuttal Of the suggestion being that
"he is not presidential timber" Be
that as It may. II 10 not to be dis.
missed too lightly or n outside the
range Of possible attempting, At any
rate.
The Ford nomination boom. which
started on "shoestring." as many
financial successes have had their In
| ception. Is growing. It Is known In
well informed political circles that II
) is being discussed seriously by lead
! {y m