The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-02-28
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Feb. 27-It becomes
increasingly apparent that the aver
age citizen must exercise modera-
ton in judgments of men and affairs
primarily as duty to the nation.
Impartially considered, the rumors
emanating from this city have a ten
dency to destroy order and public
confidence in that by repetition it
takes on the appearance of probable
ity. The danger lies in the alarming
character of the rumors rather than
from the actual discovery of facts re-
lating to wrong-doing in office. Mean
while, the government continues to
function with effectiveness toward
the public indignation aroused by the
oil scandals.
To analyze and dissect the political
rumors now afoat in all parts of the
country requires nothing more than
consideration for the rule in political
ethics that eve find great laxity as
to the obligation of veracity in poll
tics: wilful calumnies are propagated,
fictitious facts bodily proclaimed, the
reputation of men attacked in its
very walls, under the deceptive excuse
of party warfare, as if the victory of
a party was the ultimate object, and
the prevalence of truth and the spirit
of veracity not more important" In
as much as both major parties are in
volved in current Investigations and
scandals there is nothing prejudicial
or partisan in these statements. Pub
lie welfare is too often made pre-
oysfsc
D.
With the resignation of Edwin
DENLY as Secretary of the Navy &C
copied by the President, the first
break in the Cabinet occurred. There
is strong movement in Congress,
principally among Republicans, for
the removal of Attorney General
Daugherty. DENLY quit to save Mr..
the charges of incompetency, not
graft, in connection with the leasing
of the naval oil reserves to Sinclair
and Doheny interests. Daugherty is
not as closely identified with the oil
scandals as his associate in the Cabi-
net, but he has never been popular
even among the leaders of his own
party.
1t will be recalled that Daugherty
was named Attorney General by his
intimate friend the late President
Harding, who had warm admiration
for his political sagacity and a deep
personal attachment due to years of
close association in Ohio politics. An
tagonism toward Daugherty developed
during the last Presidential campaign
when he was vigorously opposed as
the spokesman for the Ohio delega-
ton to the National Republican con-
vention. The fight against him with
in his party has grown, especially
since the passing of his chief defend
er, the late President. 1t is believed
that he will retire before the conven-
ton in June, because his connection
with the Cabinet may bring a blight
upon the candidacy of Mr.. Coolidge.
Public men must expect to have their
private affairs scanned and misrepre-
sented at times.
The tinkering with. the tax bill
brings out in sharp relief the ques-
ton of party responsibility. Nobody
will contest the opinion expressed
years ago by Lieber, the political
economist, that popularity is far
from constituting the sole index of
good government. 1t is generally
agreed that representative govern
ment is not complete without lawful
opposition. There is grave danger,
however, in the habit of partisans to
interpret clamor for public opinion.
The feeling prevails that political
coalitions generally arouse DISTRICT in
the public mind. 1t is also conceded
that these organizations will disband
when their detectives have been
reached-the displacement of the adj
nistration's legislative program.
The Democratic plan OF tax reduc-
ton, which seems destined to replace
the Mellon proposal in the House,
will undoubtedly be amended in the
Senate and the principal features Of
the administration proposal incor-
porated in the compromise measure ;.
Nobody seems to know just what
plan will prevail in the end as there
is always the possibility of a Presi-
dental veto. The President has de-
clared himself emphatically in favor
of the Treasury tax program and has
indicated that he would rather go be-
fore the country for judgment in the
November elections on the basis of
a veto, rather than accept a plan
which he does not regard as feasible
from an economic standpoint. How
ever, the constantly shifting political
sands may force him to change his
position. With the detection of the
socalled insurgent Republicans to the
Democratic side, the administration s
tax bill has been drastically amended
on the floor of the House.
The combination of solid Demo
cratic vote and the insurgent ele-
ment brought about the passage Of
certain features Of the Democratic
plan by vote of 222 to 1876. Under
this vote the Democratic plan fixed
the surtax at A per cent on in
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