San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18
LaF gillette, Brookhart and
Others Will Form Group
to Block Party Legislation
That Does Not Suit Them;
A ction of Democrats
Problematical.

Washington, ID. C.. Feb. H..
" Standpatters" of both great political
parties, and particularly the surviving
members of the "Old Guard" are
looking forward to the converting of
the Sixty-eighth Congress with feel
ings very much akin TO dread. The
representatives Of the vested inter-
ests all over the country are con
juring up visions of COmmunistic
legislation which they fear the radi-
cal group, specially in the Senate, will
cndeavOr to foist on the country.
1t is an open secret about Wash
ingtOn that apprehension over what
this group might do or attempt to do.
is largely responsible for the admin
istratiOn's decision to postpone the
meeting date OF the new Congress as
long as possible. Senator Robert NJ.
LaFOllettC of Wisconsin. is the rec
Ognized and unquestiOnCd leader Of
this group and it is violating no con-
fidcnce to admit that no love is lost
between the Little Napoleon" Of the
Senate and President Harding. In
the two years of the administration
that have passed. LaEOllette. although
senior senator from Wisconsin and
labeled Republican, has had no
voice in patronage matters. He has
frankly told his followers who sought
federal appointment that his endorse
ment would be fatal to their cause
and yet. apparently, he has not lost
caste with them for all that.
LaFOllette Not Lonesome.
But LaFOllctte is not the only bug
a-bOo in the next Senate. There is
Smith W. BrOOkhart. the new sena-
tor from Iowa. who won his election
despite the undisguised opposition to
the regular Republican organization.
He already has whettcd his steel on
the intrenchments of vested interests
through the introduction Of bill TO
repeal the Esch-Cummins law; an
| other reducing railroad valuation 81
| OOO,OOOOOO, while another proposes TO
give the states full power and con
| troll over freight rates. Having done
these few things in the two months
and a half that he has been senator
| it may be SurmiSed that BrOOkhart will
really show form when he gets his
/ second wind in the next Congress.
There are other members in the
! Senate of the Sixty-fOurth Congress
| who are not Of a temper to stand idly
I by and let LaFOllette and BrOOkhart
win all the plaudits of the radicals,
both reds and pinks. Senator Capper
Of Kansas, wLo is none too conser.
yative, is said 10 nurse a secret am
bitiOn 10 be the first man from a
state west Of .the Mississippi to be
elected president. He has never OPEN
! " broken with the administration but
his response to the party lash has
been largely negative and he is ex.
pected to prove even less tractable in
the next Congress. although he may
not follow through every drive La.
Toilette makes.
Call Norris BOlsheyist.
Senator George W. Norris of Ne.
braska, has always demonstrated what
his friends term independence OF
thought and his political enemies
denounce it as pure BOlsheyism. ,
But he IS an experienced senator who
apparently, is not afraid 10 take hold
OF the hot end Of the legislative TO.
ker, if need be-. Senator T.. +. Ladd
OF North Dakota, having served two
years, is now on 10 the ways Of the
! Senate, and at least will be entitled