The New York herald., 1922-07-17
FEAR OF NOVEMBER BEHIND
CONGRESS- MACEDONIAN CRY

two or three Independents like Mr..
Borah.
When fourteen Republican Senators
representing various phases OF party
factional division reflect disapproval
of an improvement revenue measure
frame to carry out a party obligation
there is little justification for the
statement that 1t is inspired by parti-
sanship. With very few exceptions
the majority of Republican Senators
privately admit that the tariff bill
framed by Mr.. McCumber's Finance.
Committee is indefensible.
The President and other party lead
ers who still hold that the tariff bill
should be passed probably would be
surprised If they knew the extent of
the revolt which, for various causes,
has seethed beneath the surface.
Three or four Senator's like Mr.
Norris, Mr.. Lenroot and Mr.. Borah
have declared it would have been
much better to withdraw the make
shit measure which the President
and Mr.. Lodge assert should be put
through. One Of the Senators carried
his criticism Of the measure to the
extent Of declaring that it as worse
than nothing
The Local Issues.
At the outset most of the Republi-
can Senators who presumably appre-
ciate the imperfections disclosed in
the Senate debates, thought they
could be defended or revised in the
open Senate to meet objections. Their
chief concern regarding it was OF a
political character. This was encour-
aged by the hope that individual con-
eessions of local importance would
favorably affect their chances for re-
election.
During the last week or ten days.
however, much of this confidence has
been dissipated. On three occasions
groups of Republican Senators rang
ing from ten to fifteen In number
have openly revolted against features
of the McCumber tariff bill and COM
PEELED a drastic revision of it. The
indications are that as the Democratic
filibuster progresses there Will be even
more serious outbreaks.
Just how the relief committee of
the Senate expects the President to
help the situation is a matter Of con-
lecture With presumably little def
mite information on the specific de-
fects Of the Fordney- McCumber bill
at hand, the President desires the
tariff bill passed because the party
pledged itself to provide greater pro-
lection to the Industries Of the coun-
try.
If he continues in that mind, the
Fordney- McCumber bill probably will
be put through about a month or six
weeks hence-possibly two months.
The Senate leaders hold the belief
that he will depend on the majority
to correct the glaring defects daily
disclosed in it and urge it's passage.
The only thing else he can do in the
situation, according to Senate leaders,
is to consent to the withdrawal of the
measure for complete revision along
reasonable lines. 1t is not believed
he will 10 this.
Complicated as the tariff situation
is, the irritating bonus scheme, which.
by the way, has shed most Of it's rain
bow tints, stands revealed as a sordid
political deal between timid Senators
and Representatives on the one hand
and the politicians in the American
Legion on the other. The tariff prob
ably would stand much better
chance Of getting through within a
reasonable time if the bonus scheme
were removed from the situation.
This is also true Of the ship subsidy
measure.
Until the President moves to re-
move either or both, the tariff from
which the Republican leaders expect
ed so many benefits-and now fear
the worst--will constitute the chief
menace to Republican hopes in the
coming Congressional elections.