Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-03
DEMOCRATIC SPLIT
LOOMS AS GARNER
HITS MELLON PLAN
Measure Declared Most Pop
uIar Since Wdr-Expected
to Hold First Place as So
Ions ReassembIe Thursday
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Leased Wire Service TO The Journal
lConYricht. 1924.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.--Congress
reassemblss tomorrow, after nearly
two weeks of vacation, but il the
members used the time to get in
touch with their constituents, it may
be set down as one Of the most in
structive periods in the history of
the present session.
Little by little the true strength
beginning to dawn on the leGisla-
tors The first impressions received
when Secretary Melons tax pro.
gram was disclosed were an index
that the subject had at least attract
ed nationwide attention, but con-
gress is more or less accustomed to
the first waves of popular feeling
on national topics. The vital thing
Is that there should be sustained
drive which keeps growing instead
OF diminishing in intensity. Some
members think the greatest demon.
stration of how the people feel on
tax revision is yet to come, and that
both houses will soon discover that
issue.
Brings Democratic Split
Perhaps the most interesting de-
velopment of the past ten days with
respect to the tax program has been
the division in the ranks of the
Democrats. There appears to be a
tendency not unusual with a minor
lily to allow individual spokesmen
a.
cratic policy. When Finis j. Gar
rett, the recognized leader OF the
Democrats in the house, issued his
first statement saying the Demo
Gratis had long been in favor Of tax
revision, and that two Democratic
secretaries of the treasury, Messrs.
Houston and Glass, had recommend
ed some of the essential features Of
what is now called the Mellon plan,
it looked as if the Democrats would
not obstruct the program.
Now. however, Representative
Garner, of Texas, Democratic men,
Der of the ways and means commit
tee, has begun an attack on the adj
ministration bill on the ground that
Mr.. Melons scheme favcrs the
wealthy as against the poor
The record shows that what
Messrs. Glass and Houston were
willing. to do, with reference to a
reduction of surtaxes was in con-
formity with the same principle that
Mr.. Mellon has applied, but that a
Republican congress refused to fol-
low the suggestions of the Demo
cratic secretaries of the treasury.
Mr.. CARROTS Strategy
Mr.. Gamers opposition is not con-
sistent with Mr.. CARROTS earlier
statements, and the national capital
is beginning to wonder whether the
Democrats are going to have a case
OF divided counsels OH the tax is
sue. There are some Democrats who
think it is poor politics" to place
the Democratic party in the position
OF using ore pretext or another to
obstruct the course of the Mellon
tax program. Naturally there are
going to be amendments, and if the
Republicans should decline to give
full consideration to changes sug-
geste6 by the Democrats they will
feel tne adverse affects of such &C.
ton politically The question IF
whether the amendments are con-.
structive Or destructive will have to
!, be decided by the people themselves
on the basis of comments from both
sides.
The strategy OF Mr. Garrett, the
leader of the minority has been to
place his party in favorable posi-.
ton during the early st. Ses of the
debate so that when the opportunte
moment arrived some credit would
accrue to the Democrats for havinn
suggested worthwhile changes in
the bill. His tactics are not unlike
those pursued by the Republicans
when a constructive measure like
the federal reserve act was before
congress The Republicans did not
Openly oppose the bill, though most
of them voted against it on the last
roll call. but a goodly number,
among them Senator Root and Sen.
ator Weeks, of Massachusetts, made
a sincere effort 20 get into the bill
certain amendments. and the con-
sensus of opinion afterwards was
that the measure was strengthened
by the changes.
The administration tax reduction
is not an exact parallel, but it is the
one mesure since the war on which
public opinion seems to have cen.
tered. and the chances OF earning
political disfavor by blocking it are
almost as great as the opponents for
political credit in helping put a con.
structive tax program through con-
greSs.
: Every day the momentum behind
the bill becomes greater-and when
congress gets down to work this
week the tax program will occupy
first place in the minds of the ma
tional legislators.