The Connecticut labor news., 1923-03-16
MUFFINS

the Washington Post. It comes close to | speaking by the book" In a copy | righted story one of the Posts star writers finds marked progress made 1 toward solution of the Russian problem, involving prospective recognition of the | Soviet government by the leading 1 powers * *
 The Posts writer finds that ''prin- ciples which Secretary Hughes has re. garded as essential to establishment of made effective by the Russian govern ment,' etc.
 If the Post in this instance speaks with its customary authority 1t may be assumed that the Harding administra- tiOn IS weakening in the me quarter in which it has been most sound, l Recognizing the Soviets in any man. ner on the basis of Soviet recognition of l contracts and debts, which means the old l Russian debt, means giving recognition for a mess of potage. And dubious pOtage at that for the Soviet word is l confessedly worthless. It means, how ever, lowing to the will of big business and disregarding principle entirely |
 Wherever the Soviet government l SOcS IL SOtS 1Ol pIOpdOdllOd. IT 1eld- tions were to be established with this country the Soviet propaganda machine would be the sole beneficiary. It is not to be forgotten that recognized govern ment Is entitled to a consulate in every city, and a consular staff may be as large as desired and may do about what 1t wants to do The first thing the Soviets would do in the United States would be to establish large Consular" propa- ! IL G., iii :A: | And the first business of each of these propaganda staffs would be to seek the destruction of the trade union movement. It always has been the program of Lenine to first break down the trade union movement as a condition precedent to undermining the United States govern nent.
 With the door open it could bring in men and money to its hearts content. Its ultimate success is not to be conceded for a moment. but its dirty work would in constructive work for America and for the American trade union movement would of necessity be diverted to fighting the serpent in the house.
 Harding has assumed that part of his job as President is to take care of his friends. He has done it consistently. Regular Republicans have suffered in silence. A few irregulars are arriving in town to kick over the traces. The next Congress will probably say, Show me-"
 The Couzens- McNary Harding Mellon tilt IS an indication of the way the wind blows. McNary is lame duck. Hard ing wanted to. give him a soft job as Comptroller of the Currency Most Senators were prenared to grin and bear it, but Senator Couzens wasn't He couldn't understand why the United States should turn over its banking af- fairs to man who. as head of bank had been it's chief borrower, alleged to have speculated with its funds, and with allowing companies in which he was personally interested to overdraw their accounts with his bank in large amounts.
 Couzens went to the% President and to Secretary of the Treasury Mellon and declared war. The Presidents friends in the senate tried to subdue Couzens, but it didn't work. Hadn't Governor Groesbeck of Michigan appointed him to take Newberry's seat in the Senate just to get him out of Detroit? Couzens answered by a threat to filibuster in the Senate to the end of the session to pre- vent McNary's confirmation.
 President Harding gave up his effort to get Senate action and offered McNary recess appointment in a sort of "Couzens-be-damned' manner. But Mo Nary saw the handwriting on the wall.