The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-01-07
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Jan. Cit is apparent
that the holiday spirit of 'Peace on
Earth" found little response from
mortals having political aspirations.
At the beginning of the New Year
the Executive and Legislative
branches of Congress are thrown in
to a furore by the covert threat to
revive the farm bloc and the mix up
generally on tariff matters. The pos
sibilities are such that the tax bill
ordinarily so close to the legislators
minds is taking second place in cloak
room discussions.
Congressmen and Senators on their
return from their home towns over
the holiday recess had their memories
refreshened by personal chats. In the
more populous states where manufar-
turing is of prime Importance and ag,
riculture only incidental, the tariff
and the farm bloc are seldom, if ever,
considered. According to political
observers in the corn belt states
where there is an overproduction OF
certain farm products, particularly a
corn surplus, there is a movement
under way to tinker with the tariff in
the hope of forcing the Administra-
ton in line on price fixing and farm
export measures. At least that is the
feeling that exists in Administration
circles and softly echoed by Demo-
cratic members of Congress interest
ed in tariff adjustments. Democratic
leaders have watched with interest the
evidence of alarm manifest among
those on the other side of the political
fence. The tariff of late years has
been considered more of an economic
than a political factor and never fig
ured prominently in recent cam
paigns.
It is said that there is a carefully
organized propaganda, not sponsored
exclusively by the Democrats, to $
feature the tariff as a campaign is
sue. It's discussion during the next
few months is regarded as pertinent
because of the fact that the entire
member of the House will be up
for reelection and thirty-two men,
bers of the Senate must lay their
cases before the voters this year.
There are twenty-six seats in the
Senate now held by Republicans
which will be contested, the other six
are regarded as safely Democratic.
g.
The "watchful waiting" policy
which became a by-word during the
Wilson regime finds its parallel in
President Coolidge's attitude on the
plebiscite in South
America. The ordinary citizen re-
CARDS this matter only as another
one of those foreign affairs" 1t has
an interesting angle as two of our
most prominent citizens are person
ally involved in the dispute-Presi-
dent Coolidge and General Pershing.
General Pershing has been chairman
of the Commission drafting rules for
the election by which the citizens of
the disputed territory can make
known their wishes, through the bal
lot box, as to whether they desire to
be. citizens of Chill or Peru. They
have appealed to the President per-
sonally rather than to the United
States Government, and he has ap-
parently adopted the old Spanish of
'tmanana," which means tomorrow"
Those close to Mr.. Coolidge feel
rhat the clamor in the two neighbor-
ing countries will simmer down after
a, few months. Meanwhile Chill and
Peru will file briefs outlining their
position as to how the elections
should be conducted and differing
with the methods outlined by General
Pershing. The General is returning
home because of illness. Some say
that this is a diplomatic method of
from the fracas but
those who know the General say that
he is not retiring from the Commits
sion under any false pretenses.
-
The New Years receptions at the
White House and at the homes of
Cabinet members brought out some
discussions. The we'll in
formed folk back home know that a
considerable amount of legislation is
actually transacted in drawing rooms
informal discussion of polite
al leaders. So ordinarily social gath
ings in Washington have more than
passing interest to the nation.
D.
Some disturbance was created this
week when two Capital society lead
ers gave rival balls at their mansions,
placing those high in political and
diplomatic life in quandary. It re-
quires tact to avoid social pitfalls in