The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-06-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Congress May Not Adjourn AS
At First Scheduled Owing
To Democratic Objection

Washington, June ), l924.-Sen-
atOr LaFollette's latest pronuncia-
mento is everywhere regarded as con-
firming the long entertained belief
that the Wisconsinite purpose to run
for president on an independent tick
ct Already petitions are being circu-
lated asking that electors for LaFol-
lette be placed on the ballots. Just
what La Follette's purpose is none
can surmise. He knows he cannot be
elected. He knows chat his candidacy
can have only one or two effects,
either to draw from Coolidge lust
enough votes to cause the election of
the Democratic candidate, or to throw
the election into the House because
no candidate has majority in the
electoral college. And there is every
prospect that the latter effect of the
La Toilette candidacy would result in
chaos. Apparently the House will be
too evenly divided to elect a Presi-
dent, in which case the election would
go to the Senate, which would be
compelled to elect as President one of
the presidential candidates. La
Toilette has never forgiven Theodore
Roosevelt for running in 1912. after
La Foilette's spectacular breakdown
at Philadelphia. This fact leads MANY
to believe that his motive is purely
desire for revenge, a determination
that the Republican party, because it
will not give him the nomination.
shall not win. But whatever his mo-
tive there is no denying the fact that
his apparent purpose is occasioning
serious anxiety among the leaders Of
both parties.
The insurgents in Congress have
approached the Democrats with
proposition to form q col;tion to pre-
vent adjournment on June, 7 as is
desired by the Republicans. There is
no question that if the Democrats will
accede to the wishes OF the insurgents
they can accomplish their purpose.
Whether or not to accede is a quest
ion which is sOrely perplexing the
Democratic leaders. They believe
there is no rOstrum comparable with
the halls of Congress from which to
broadcast scandal and abuse of the
Republicans. They realize that though
they may shout themselves hoarse on
the stump the press will pay little
attention to their ranting, as COM
pared with the publicity they gain
when they illuminate in Senate and
House and enjoy the printing of their
remarks in the Congressional Rec
nrds. These considerations may
prompt them to join the insurgents to
defeat the Republicans. On the other
hand, Democrats who come from close
districts are anxious to get through
and go home to mend their fences.
That Congress has deliberately
made the United States pull the
beard of Japan and has thus courted
war is the conviction of most high
ranking officers of the army and navy,
who add that this country is wholly
unprepared for war with Japan at
this time and that nothing could have
been more unWise and unpatriotic
than to take action regarded as an
insult by every japanese, when the
same end, the exclusion of the Japa-
nese, could easily have been accom-
i I'll
means. Almost as if to confirm the
view that it has deliberately created
cause for war, the House has just ap-
propriated S150,OO0,O00 to be expen-
ded on the navy and in part, at least,
TO bring the existing fec. up to date.
Its entirely possible the Senate may
not act on this bill before adjourn
ment but if it does it will only mean
a delay until next winter
Whether Congress adjourns early
or late the summer will be marked by
two Investigations of prohibition en-
forcement, one conducted by Senator
Couzens of Michigan with, presumab-
iy, Francis ]. Heney, noblest muck
raker OF them all, as its special coun-
sci, the other run by Rep. Gable of
Ohio and his committee on Alcoholic
Liquor Traffic, which has just held its
first meeting in five years. AS every
one knows there have been grave de-
fects in prohibition enforcemnt but
there is wide difference Of opinion
as to where the responsibility lies, In
the Internal Revenue Bureau there
are broad limitations that Congress
men aqe largely 10 blame because q