The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-09-18
National Editorial Association Spec
ial to the Herald

Washington, Sept. 16-Taking
stock of the presidential campaigns
is relatively a simple matter when the
usual seasonal buncombe is discarded
According to well-informed and i'm
partial observers the stumbling
blocks to progress are obviously a
public becoming less imaginative and
~dissension within parties. Perhaps
the s%quabbles within the house are
more damaging because of the ulti-
mate effect on party spirit. Attempts
are made everywhere to cover up the
signs of friction but it is admitted
that men find it easier to sow dissen-
sion than to restore harmony.
Outside the constant chickering's ov-
er management and policies of the
contesting parties, the most conspi-
cuous example of internal warfare is
afforded by the United States Tariff
Commission. The dispute has reach
ed a stage wherein the Commission is
helpless to proceed. The feeling pre-
walls here that the solution of the
problem will rest entirely with Con-
gress. 1t is conceded that the organ
ization is too important to allow it's
adjustment by legislative whim.
Comment upon this subject is soft
pedaled at this time in a studied eff
fort to keep the issue out of political
debates. The tariff problem had al
most faded from the political arena
into the realm of economics. The
widely divergent views of a few men.
comprising the Commission, may have
the effect of pulling tariff matters to
the forefront again.
The Institute of Economies, a nom
political organization, has given a
thorough study to the question and
reached the conclusion that reform
is needed to cure the fundamental
errors that cause criticism of every
new law. Suggestions offered by the
Institute call for a revision of the
work required of the tariff body. 1t
is said that sentiment has developed
for legislation at the next session of
Congress to deprive the Commission
of some of the powers relating to the
flexible provisions of the new law.
It will all depend upon the majority
mustered in the House and Senate
by the administration. Argument has
been advanced by Thomas Walker
Page, former chairman of the Com
mission and now an official of the
non-governmental Institute, that the
Commission should furnish Congress
with facts needed to judge whether
proposed duties should be enacted ]
into law. He assumes that the dut- 5
les would not be controversial or par t
tisan but solely statistical offering a $
base upon which either a protective Z
or revenue tariff can be built. The T
Tariff Commission and its fate is L
among the first of the issues which
the present and outgoing Congress
must meet. /
The Unruly Voter I
Precinct captains and the lesser t
fry" Of the c~ampaigners are con /
planning Of the changing attitude
of the voters. Some raise the cry 4
that the Imagination Of the individual I
once a strong partisan, Is giving way.
Too much thinking makes II difficult 4
for petty leaders 70 deliver their dis C
tricts. Maybe, these district hap 5
tains believe that some men have I
lust imagination enough 10 spoil L
their judgment. Appeals TO the i'm Y
agination formerly made drastic n
changes in the vote, for the imagin- ?
alton is more sensitive than the heart. 5
There is much speculation as to the c
of the election but nobody
in Washington is prepared to place il
heavy bets. They realize that the 5
public is tickle and local leaders ?
promises are reeds too wobbly for n
comfortable assurances. i
Considerable unemployment is d
noted by the U. S. Employment Ser 0
vice in its report issued this week.
Harvesting and threshing has brought a
an increased demand for farm labor t
and absorbed some of the surplus
released by the closing down of f
factories. An encouraging sign is o
noted in the gradual resumption of t
operations in industrial centers, par t
ticularly the steel trade. Increased
activity in several branches of the t
industry is taken for a hope n
full sign of better times. P
That the slough of depression is
not as deep as first suspected is re- e
i nthe survey of domestic bust c
ness conducted by the Department of
Commerce. Sales of the leading Il
mail-order houses increased material {
ly during August, steel production
was above the total for the preceding L
month, and trade picked up in many t
lines. 1t is stated by government ex- \
perts that the western farmer will d
profit greatly by the increased inn t
p~ortations of food products by Europ-
can nations. The increased purchas- 0
ing power of the farmer is estimated 0
of q billion dollars Naturally this n