Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-08
Republicans Taking Stock

It iE caucus of Republican Senators held
l around the dinner table of Senator
Lodge. nominal leader of the Senate. was
not cheerful proceeding, II reports are to
be believed Although the session was
executive" and unofficial, il is we'll under
stood that the group Of Old Guardsmen who
accepted the Lodge invitation carefully con
sidered the plight in which their party finds
itself on the ,eve of a national campaign
involving the election OF new House and
the election Of one-third of the member
ship OF the Senate.
The situation that the caucus dealt with
is one OF conditions, not theories. Certain
uncomfortable facts stand out. In the first
place. the Senate is face 10 face with the
obligation TO vote upon soldier bonus bill.
That body has no taste for such LEGISLATION,
but there seems no escape from il Nor has
any bill been evolved TO date which may
nope 30 win the approval OF the President,
II ne is 10 be taken at his word. How to
deal with this problem may we'll be a matter
ot anxiety on the part OF Lodges guests
Then, TOO, the ligh, wine and beer issue
has come forward to plague many Senate
leaders Secretary of War Weeks in frank
urtorancc in Pennsylvania the other day ex-
pressed the opinion that many Legislators
now in Washington would fail TO return il
they do not advocate openly some modifi-
cation OF the Volstead act. /, so happens
that Senator Freinghuysen. OF New Jersey,
is up for re election on b0ne-dry platform
The same is true OF others who gathered at
the Lodge mansion, and now there is pertut
baton lest the administration has raised
prohibition questions which will be hard TO
down.
Once more. the Senate is headed toward
the passage OF the most extreme tariff bill
ever seriously considered by Congress There
is nationwide protest against this measure
It's terms are becoming more widely under
stood as tie debate proceeds. and IT is in
crcasingy eyiden, 10 The country AZ large
that the SKY -is-thc-limit" protectionists are
running amucn with this legislation Mr..
Lodges political associates have begun TO
wonder what ought 10 b" done about it, and
10 wonder the more seriously when they re-
call the fate OF Senator McCumber. coauthor
OF the bill
Ship subsidy legislation is demanded
stcrnly by the President Subsidieg arc un.
popular. The pending bill particularly IS
| unpopular in many sections Of the coun-
Try II possible the House and Senate
would pass this over until later session.
but Mr.. Harding threatens an extra session
II action IL thus delayed Whether TO 20
ahead and pass The bill, assuming the politi.
I '"' i'hha !h'o'Fen or 10 ignore the Presi-
! uent demands taking 4 chance on his ami
/ ability, rs question which naturally Worries
] senate leaders
Finally, there is Ncwbcrryism which con.
| iInues 70 DO an issue Political casualiti..
| sun pile up as a result OF the Scnare's mis-
| adNeh'ur" IN awarding tho Michigan pOIitj.
Gran seat IN spite OF his confessed expendi-
lure OF nearly 100000 IN his urinary nght
Now has gone down and ont; McCnmber has
passed along and others find themselves IN
jeopardy Reflections upon that clrcr,n.
stance were enough to spoil any dinner Mir.
Lodge might give, no matter how oxcelIon,
E!s Viahds or how rare his wines
Is an unhappy prospect which Repnb.
mean legislators face. with the summer
growing hotter and the campaign drawing
nearer and their political liabilities mount.
Ing higher.