The New York herald., 1922-07-01

North Dakota primary results than tc
events on the calendar. Opinions as
to the factors which contributed to the
defeat of Mr.. McCumber were varied
and interesting. The latest decision
of the voters was admitted to exercise
direct bearing on the policies Of the
Harding Administration. the bonus
and the tariff, both of which have
been under the personal management
of Mr.. McCumber.
Administration Senators conterded
that the North Dakota results did not
imply any reflection upon the Repub-
iican party itself and defended their
position by pointing out that Mr..
Frazier is a Republican. fully quail
fed to enter the primaries Of that
party.
Tariff Is Instanced.
Some Senators who are not in SYM
pathy with the policies of the Admin
istration expressed the opposite view.
They insisted the voters had followed
the natural trend of recent political
events toward liberalism, or at least
away from the "standpat" doctrines
of Mr.. Harding and the leaders Of his
party.
Few Senators in either faction chal-
lenged the assertions of the inde-
pendents who have opposed the tariff.
The conviction that the first expression
of public sentiment pronounced on the
tariff bill indicated dissatisfaction with
1t was held to be both logical and
probable.
In building his tariff schedules, Mr..
McCumber manifested a great deal
more interest in winning votes for his
plan than in economic fitness. The
Democratic filibuster. aided by a num-
ber Of Republican Senators. was ad-
mitted to have created the impression
among the people of the country that
Mr.. McCumber's tariff bill will greatly
add to the cost of bread. shoes and
clothes.
The North Dakota decision therefore
is viewed by critics of Mr.. McCumber's
ment in this respect throughout the
country. Whether the North Dakota
decision will influence the Adninistra-
ton to respond to the demand of all
of the Democratic and a few Republi-
can Senators to either set aside the
tariff or drastically revise its rates
downward Is yet to be determined.
1t can be said with every degree of
accuracy that much less enthusiasm
was manifested by individual Sena-
tors who have agreed to support the
Fordney- -McCumber measure than at
any time since it was reported by the
Finance Committee. In other words
the stock Of the tariff and bonus, with
which Mr.. McCumber was conspicu-
ously identified. sold away below par
after the announcement of the North
Dakota primary results.
Frazier Called Radical.
The ultimate effect Of Mr.. McCum-
ber's retirement, of course, came in for
great deal Of attention and private
discussion. The advent Of Mr.. Frazier
If he is elected in the face of a prob
able combination Of independent Re
publicans and Democrats who will
support Mr.. O'Connor, the Demo-
cratic candidate--will increase the
minority radical or liberal group.
Mr.. Frazier already is catalogued
along with Mr.. La Toilette, the Wis
consin radical; Mr.. Brookhart, the
Iowa dissenter; Mr.. Norris, the Ne
braska insurgent, and several other
anti-Administration Senators who are
generally indexed as Hearst Republi-
cans"
Mr.. McCumber's place as finance
chairman automatically will go to
Senator Smoot, conservative Repub-
lican, of Utah. with Mr.. La Toilette In
the next place. Mr.. McCumber also
is ranking member of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee. with MIR. Borah,
who usually steers a consistently in
dependent course In politics, just back
OF him. There are lot Of possibili-
ties involved in the coming retirement
OF Mr.. McCumber from the Senate, but
they are Of speculative rather than
momentary Importance.
Mr.. McCumber appeared to take his
defeat philosophically. While he did
not abandon hope as the primary tide
swept him to defeat he admitted the
probable nomination of Mr.. Frazier.
He expressed the opinion, however.
that the results had "no political sig
nificance," in which view he was al
most alone.