Evening star., 1923-05-09
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

/ os CuLsShN01I
The administration has set out upon
an aggressive policy along political
lines and from now on will cease to
take the attacks Of a bold and mill
tant democracy lying down." The
credit for benefits and progress which
it claims to be due to republican
management and control Of govern
ment and to refute aspersions upon
It's works and those'of Congress. Cab
met officers will from time to time
take the field and expatiate upon the
signs Of the times and republican
achievements. Secretary Of Commerce
Hoover spoke Tuesday night in New
York before the Chamber of Com
merce Of the United States, and while
his speech was not partisan political
ly, differences could easily be drawn
favorable to republican prestige.
Postmaster General Harry s. New
will speak Thursday at Mansfield,
Ohio. at the John Sherman centennial
ceIebration. taking for his topic
Harding Prosperity" That subject,
In the hands of Mr.. New, a politician
of parts, should lend itself to treat
ment OF broader political nature in
the effort of the speaker to draw
closer connection between good leg
isiation and administration and good
times.
Chairman John T. Adams Of the
republican national committee, how
ever. beat them all TO it, when he
issued d statement following Secre-
tdry of the Treasury Melons fore
cast of a Treasury surplus June 30,
claiming credit for the administration
He claimed that the forecast fur
nished further striking evidence of
the Dement'S accruing to the American
people through the business methods
of republican administration"
chairman Hull. of the democratic
national committee is expected to
make some terse comments upon the
claim OF the republican national
chairman.
The south, supposed to be 100 per
cent democratic and loyal to the plat
form and policies Of that party. ap-
pears to have broken out in spots
with adhesion to protective tariff
principles. A delegation of southern
agrfculturalists, headed by former
governor OF Georgia, visited the
White House Monday and protested
TO the President against the tariff
commission reopening the tariff
schedule affecting vegetable oils
In his reply to the visitors Presi-
dent Harding made it known that the
commission could recommend raising
the tariff, as we'll as lowering it. to
correct any manifest inequality or in ,
justice which investigation might
show. He disclosed the policy OF the
commission and his own intention in
acting upon re-examinations of
schedules very succinctly in this
Il know the commission is in har-
nony with the general policy which
j have tried to enunciate to you
After YOU have gotten a survey OF
any field of production and the nee
essay information on which to base
things TO do. elevate or lower the
tariff. I do not see how in these cir
cumstances you could be injured in
any way. You cannot under any cir
cumstances. IL the tariff is fair one
because IT is the intention Of the law
protection to American industry
which is the purpose of the new law
Deploring the inevitable uneasines<
which ia created when announce
10 ol d survey 10 De un-
dertaken of an industry, the Presi
dent sounded a note Of reinsurance
Il have cautioned the commission. ~
he said that the government does
not mean TO throw a monkey-wrench
into the machinery at a time when
from industrial and agricultural de-
preston.
'I can tell you surely that the
President. would proclaim no reduc-
tion of the tariff unless there were
very pronounced reasons for Il. aud
modification either way only on the
most striking evidence OF The neces-
sity for such change in rates"
One of the objections urgel in Con-
flexible tariff provision under which
the President and the tariff commits
sion could effect a change IN rates
20 remedy obvious failure to main
tain protection. or showing over-pro-
lection. was that there would be dis
turbance OF business when any
schedule should be challenged and
in process of investigation. The tariff
schedules are hairtrigEer propositions
and trade responds quickly to a dis
turblng touch laid upon them.
But as the President pointed out to
the visiting southerners. in the long
run no industry could be hur. if the
tariff finally agreed upor was a tair
one. maintaining adequate protec-
tion without furnishing a lurking
place for monopoly whic would in
jure the public at large. OF course
free traders and low-rariN advocates
can never be convinced that n pro-
tective tariff is anything else than a
shelter for monopoly with consequent
prof1teering. Yet. these men from
hn hi -,
be considered as being living ex-
emplars OF the benefits Of protection
when they come to protest against
changing their schedules.
x y X
Friends of. David Houston, former
Secretary of Agriculture and later
Secretary of the Treasury under
President Wilson, are starting a boom
for him for the democratic presiden
tia1 nomination, of which there is 4
good deal of discussion in democratic
circles in Washington. The sugges-
tion of his availability as 4 candidate
is based upon the known apprecia-
ton in which he. is he!d bv former
President Wilson. This is classed as
an asset for Mr.. Houston on the
ground that Mr.. Wilson's preference
with many democrats. Thero is nc
question that, as President, Mr.. Will
son held Mr.. Houston in high esteem
regarding him as one Of the most
valued members OF his cabinet.
x X X x
Practical politicians in the demo
cratic ranks, however, are said to be
apprafsing the availability of Mr.
Houston as q candidate with a cold
and fishy eye: with no disparagement
however, of his worth and merit and
his high executive ability as shown
In the administration Of his two cabi-
net positions They are looking him
carefully up and down as a potential
Note-getter for the democratic pactY.