The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-09-23
WASHINGTON LETTER

PRESIDENT fe-eSudUlISHeu III Ilic WdICc
House, Washington takes on its nor
NAL aspects. The return of the
Chief Executive directly after the
smoke of primary battles has cleared
away brings troubles to his door. In
addition to his multitude of duties as
head of the nation he is expected to
be an arbiter and peacemaker in
partisan suuabbles. Coolidge renews
his official life in Washington, after
vacation period, without happy pros
pects. Fortunately he is so constl-
tuted as not to be greatly disturbed
over the problems of state and party
which confront him.
It is not necessary to offer an apol-
ogy for Presidents, regardless OF their
party affiliations, to say that they
are generally held responsible for the
defeat of certain candidates at the
primaries and elections. There are
candidates for office who attempt to
overcome their own shortcomings by
espousing certain fixed policies of
the Chief Executive, and infer that
their defeat be a reputation of the
nominal party leader. This was true
with Wilson as it is with Coolidge.
Politics makes strange bed follows.
II
One of the important subjects un-
der discussion in Washington today is
the possibility of coalitionsin Con-
gress. These alliances are expected
as an outgrowth of the bitterness de,
veloped in the primaries. 1t is said
that the Democrats are already max
ing overtures to the discontens among
the Republican parity, which is
perfectly natural political procedure,
| in order Ito capitalize on party fueds,
It is rather amusing to note that
the leaders of two major parties are
not at aill in agreement with their
associations as to main issues.
Attempts to make political capital
Eof the debt settlement problem have
failed because there is no marked dis
agreement on the general subject be-
tween the two parties. The subject
of foreign governments paying their
debts to this country has reached a
point where former Senator Robert
l.. Owen of Oklahoma has suggested
congressional investigation into the
sources of propaganda. This debt
question is rapidly overshadowing the
World Court as topic of discussion
in Washington.
Although the present Congress does
not meet for two or three months,
there is some talk concerning spec
ial session of the 10th Congress in the
spring. Whether the senators or con-
gressmen will be taken up with this
parliamentary jockeying for am ex-
ira session of Congress depends al
most wholly upon the outcome of the
elections. It is said call for an
extra session will be contigent upon
the Republicans losing control OF
one or both Houses. :.
Under the present rules a small
group of senators could prevent the
passage of important appropriation
bills before the close of the session
March a. This action would force
the calling of the special session OF
the new Congress and have an i'm.
portant bearing upon the Presiden'
tial elections. Though Vice-presi
dent Dawes continues his warfare
against the present Senate rules the
opinion prevails that he is merely
'stilting at windmills." The Vice
President wants THE Senate rule!
amended in order to prevent fill
busters against important legislation
An effort has been made to bring
the question of tariff revision be
fore the next session of Congress
but it is obvious that at cannot b.
successful. The present administra
ton has indicated that it will be con
tented to retain the present policy
point to the Improvement in bushes
conditions to justify this step. Tn
policy will not, however, prevent tn
projection of the tariff as a polltlca
, ISSUE
i. Reports received by the Fedora
Reserve Board, Department of Laho
and other federal agencies show tn
CONSTANT Increase in the colmmn o
business throughout the country
The railroads report record breakin
! loading of freight and employment
on the increase. The question o
agricultural legislation is brought t
the fore by the Secretary of Agri
culture who has worked out plan t
extend Federal aid to the farm &C
operatives at reasonable rate
interest. Whether his propositio
will meet with the approval of Con
gress is problematical. The belle
prevails in administration circles, a
) well as in the field of economics, tina
the agricultural problem is primaril
one of improved distribution of farr
products and cannot be adequatel
covered by legislative panaceas. 1t
not believed that the Jardine pla
will be seriously considered until tin
crops are harvested. The hope
lIheld out that the principal problem
;, confronting the farmers of the cour
try today will be partly solved by tn
law of supply and demand and not b
Government price fixing.
The return of Secretary of tn
Treasury Mellon from Europe
: creating considerable speculation
His statements on fiscal policies, d.
mestic and foreign, will afford foo
2 for thought as taxes hinge on Tub
condition of the Federal Treasury.