Evening star., 1922-01-15
CONGRESS GETS BUSY;
RESULT OF PRODDING
Conferences at White House and Else
where Make for Speed and Party
Solidarity.
Solidarity.

the more 1t will commend itself to the
farmer vote.
Press comment, however. shows
that opposition to the farmer bloc Is
not confined to Wall street nor to
big business nor to high finance.
Canvass the average man and 1t will
be found that he does not want Con-
gress controlled by a farmer bloc any
more than by a railroad bloc. a bank
ers bloc or a labor bloc.
4
The disposition Of the administra-
tion and some Of the far-seeing
statesmen at the Capitol Is said to
be not utterly to oppose the farmers
bloc. nor yet absolutely to yield to
it. There is general recognition that
many Of the things which the bloc Is
for are commendable and de-
sirable. and should be obtained. In
point of fact. before the bloc be-
came a tangible legislative entity.
with votes secured through coalition
OF normally opposing forces. the ap-
peals of the farmers were anticipated
and met by Congress. The bulk OF
the constructive legislation Of the last
session was in the interest of the
farmers. because 1t was realized that
economic world conditions had put
them in a distressful condition. The
farmers did not have to upset party
lines to obtain the relief which was
freely given them. not for political
reasons, but for reasons based on
justice and right and economic COM
mon sense.
In the legislative program map
ped out for the immediate future the
wishes Of the agriculturists will be
met To be sure. the bloc stands
ready to compel acquiescence or hold
up everything else. but there will be
no necessity for such drastic action.
\ X +
The farmers marketing bill and
some reclamation legislation are
down on the program for early ac-
tion. These projects may constitute a
tie. which. for the present. will hold
the republicans in the farmers bloc
in harmony with the party organiza-
tion.
President Harding is now success
fully holding the role of liaison officer
between the farmers bloc and the re-
publican organization. He is not do
ing it, however. by unqualified acqui-
escence in the spirit which the public
to the bloc, whether right
ly or wrongfully, of being intent upon
pushing the fortunes of one class OF
the people over the others. His att1-
tude is that the farmers should have
all the Justice due them: if their con-
dition warrants special legislation
they should have it not because they
are powerful in their coalition. but
because it is their right as citizens.
But he does not want any coalition
of votes in Congress to give to one
class of citizens undue preference
over another, and he is not afraid to
say so. In fact, he did speak pretty
plainly on the subject in the recent
talks with senators.
X \ + 4
Friends of President Harding say
that their belief is that one OF the
principles which he holds closest ad-
herence to in the conduct of his great
office is that he is first and foremost
Of all the people Of all the
United States"
That sounds good, and the Presi-
dents friends believe it is true.
Some of the old-time statesman
politicians in Congress-and there
are a few of them left, despite the
infusion of new blood
frvSi, from the people-are looking
forward to the events of this year to
quicken the political and party spirit
in the country, which has undergone
Of slump since the last
election showed such a merging of
political opinion into support of one
party organization.
They think it will be a good thing
for the country If the democrats and
republicans can divide along well de-
fined lines of policy and legislation
and "go to the mat" at the polls. They
deplore the tendency to submersion OF
party lines and the ascendency of
blocs and coalitions for utilitarian
ends not based upon policies and eco
nomic doctrines. a.
The discussio on of the tariff bill is
expected to fan the smoldering spark
Of party differences. Ship subsidy
legislation may add fuel to the flames
Anything which will get the demo-
Gratis and republicans on opposite
ides of definite platforms will be
welcomed by these thinkers as con-
ducive to a healthy spirit in the re-
public.