Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-20
Tribune's Washington Bureau)

"dSuIUE LCu, ~. icy 49,
ington is once more becoming the cen
ter Of the political vortex, now tnat
the elections are over, and this prom
ises to be a year among years, IN
congressional and political activity
here.
Every incoming train is deposltlng
its quota of senators, representatives,
lobbyists, political plum seekers and
news correspondents at Union Station,
and each group bring its quota to
give up to capitol society.
Up by the capitol where the mouse
and senate office buildings are located,
a buzzing cloud Of conjecture hangs
over the offices and the press gal
%leries. The special session, tate OF the
ship subsidy, who will lead the new
congress-, the fate of Senator New
berry. the presidents reorganization
plan for the departments, presidential
possibilities and scores of other ques-
tons are being asked from one to
another, as the capitol prepares itself
for the special session November 90.
The White House and the cabinet are
no less busy.
Most of the cabinet nave returned
and at the first meeting at which q
normal attendance was present, the
election was the chief topic of CONVEX
sation. Congress and not the executive
has been the reactionary factor in this
administration, according to the cab
met view. The ~reactionary character
Of legislation enacted, and failure to
act upon proposed measures Of a
progressive character brought the re
buke from the voters, according to this
opinion, which is held by the presi-
dents INN ediate council of advisers.
Liberal Opinions
Those holding this view point out
that President Harding has entertain
ed opinions far more liberal than those
held by the ruling leaders in congress.
For example, it is pointed out, he
stood for Il sales tax and for a soldier
bonus properly financed, and for other
measures which were repealed by
those in control. Congress refused to
enact a sales tax law, and in its stead
passed a law which removed the excess
profit taxes from big business with
burden of the common people. II
"foxed' the president on the soldier
bonus question, by passing a law
which was known in advance to be
hostile to the presidents views. be
cause it provided no method of financ-
ing the payments.
In these and other ways, the presi-
dents observers contend, congress
earned the drastic d~rubbing it received
at the hands of the voters. and must
reform itself from within if the party
is to be held in shape for the 1924
contest.
| How to do this is a question which
Twill probably be answered by the calling
of q special session in March and a
change of leaders on the republican
side of both houses. according 10 the
g. o, p. spokesman.
A democratic change is just as pos
sible, the leaders of that party say.
and they further state that the re-
oganization of both the major parties
in congress. by selecting new blood for
leaders, will prevent the possibility of
the forming of q new party. The eau
cuses to decide these questions will be
held early in the spring, it is pre-
Idicted.
Wisconsin Powerful
Discussion of the outlook in the
house has served to center attention
on the possibility that the delegation
from Wisconsin, regarded MS a com
pact bloc of progressives. may hold
the balance Of power. In the mind
of some it is even a question whether
the expected republican slate providing
for the reelection of Speaker Gillette
and selection of Representative Long
worth of Ohio as republican leader can
be put through unless approved by the
Wisconsin group. which will be made
up of republicans n a socialist. Next
to the part that Wisconsin may play,
the geographical question comes in for
most speculation.
Up to the time of the election 10
Opposition had developed against Speak
er Gillette. His friends say that there
is still little likelihood that the party
will turn against him. but it is con-
coded that if the speaker is returned
to power the chances may be to the
detriment of Longworth. Western re
publicans, particularly those affiliated
with the farm bloc. have indicated
that Representative Anderson of Min
~nesota might step to the front as q
formidable candidate for leader to take
the place vacated by Representative
MondelI. Dir. Anderson. who has been
a hard and conscientious worker in the
house for the last i years, was head
of the joint commission on agricultural
inquiry Tor Ine taSt TWO years, tue tiTSt
time in the history of the United States
that a congressman has headed a joint
senate and house commission. In ad-
dition, he is chairman of the appro-
priations subcommittee, and as such
has been in charge of the agricultural
bill, in which the west has taken great
err interest than in most other meas
ures.
Mann Not Entered
Representative James r. Mann of
Illinois has informed friends that he is
not a candidate for speaker or leader.
and for some time it has been known
that he is supporting Mr.. Longworth.
Election gossip to the contrary, Repre-
sentative Burton of Ohio. mentioned
for leader. would hardly enter the race
to oppose Nicholas Longworth. since
they are both from the same state.
The more astute prognosticators
find little to hinder Anderson from
taking the opening left by Mondell and
they point to his record of service and
his progressivism rs grounds for their
choice. They do admit, however. that
the race promises to be n hot one.
On the democratic side there is also
the prospect of n lively fight for the
leadership with the lineup indicating
that the choice will lie between Rep
resentative Garrett of Tennessee, act
ing leader. and Representative Garner
of Texas, who ranks next to the pres
- In,In~ yyaprnrnntufiya Eifnh3p ar,