The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-21
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY

The house and senate are deadlocked on two bills, each potential of untold good to the entire nation. The senate is in the throes of a filbuster against the merchant marine measure, designed to establish our fleet Upon the high seas; and the house has come to an impasse on the disposition of Muscle Shoals. In the senate the Demo- crats oppose the merchant marine bill, and in the house the Republicans are strangling the Ford offer in committee.
 It appears that in both these instances partisanship has passed beyond the bounds of reason. It is significant that Senator Underwood deprecates the senate filibuster against the merchant marine bill, and ex- presses the emphatic opinion that it should be allowed to come to vote. On this point he declared that, unless the senate changed it's tactics, the time would come when "it would be discredited unless it learns how to transact business" In the minds of many people that time has already come. The whole history of the senate's activity since it passed into the hands of the Republican majority has been a living proof that 1t does not transact business appertaining to
 
 patch. That Democrats should now join in this filibuster is not viewed with approval by the rank and file of Democrats. The principle of the filibuster is wrong, Tor u always furnishes an opportunity for the minority to prevail, instead of the majority. If the Democrats were to keep their record free of such tactics they would be in far stronger position to combat filibusters against themselves when they in turn come into the majority, as there is fine prospect that they will come into the majority at the next election.
 In the house, there appears to be similar determination on the part of the rules com mittee to prevent the Ford offer from com ing before that body. Chairman Campbell of the rules committee takes the view that it would be useless for the house to vote on the Ford legislation, because Ford would not accept it without the Gorgas plant. Acting Chairman Mckenzie of the military affairs committee replies that the measure would be subject to amendment and that the Gorgas plant could thus be included in the final act. Chairman Campbell main tains his refusal, however, and is supported by his colleagues by vote of six to three. Thus the great benefit inherent in and waiting on the Muscle Shoals development is deliberately kept from the people, because men of little vision are in position of stra- tegic control.
 In spite of all this surprising history or opposition to these important measures, the fact remains that both measures are funda- mentally sound and that their enactment would contribute immediately and directly to the general welfare and prosperity If the, Democrats were only brought to per ceive the potential excellence of the mer- chant marine bill, and the Republicans could be induced to forget their prejudice in the contemplation of the great panorama of in- dustrial possibilities dependent upon khe Muscle Shoals development both parties would have merged the question of parti- sanship into one triumphant program of na- tional advancement. Indeed, the Democrats in congress could rightly claim credit for both achievements, for the Muscle Shoals project is their own creation, and the mer- chant marine measure only awaits their support to be enacted into law. As The Age-Herald said in November, when com menting on the election returns, the Repub- lican numerical majority is not a working majority, and the Democrats have unique opportunity to guide and control legislation, turning it to the public benefit. Now is the time for that opportunity to be utilized.