The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-10-07
WASHINGTON LETTER

| UAOllllvUlVV LII LIN
Washington, October 6th-Indica-
tons are that coalitions in the Senate
and possibly, on a lesser scale in the
House may provoke trouble at the
next session Of Congress. 1t is said
that proposed alliances between the
Democrats and the so-called insurgent
Republicans may be of sufficient
strength to impede the progress OF
legislation proposed by the majority
parity. From the last analysis, it is
undoubtedly problem of leadership
rather than one of issues which will
concern the next assembly.
It is customary for the administers
| tive branch of the Government to
formulate plans and policies for the
confederation of Congress cary in The
fall. This rule prevails when the ad-
mnistration has undisputed control
over the legislative branch of the
Government. Much depends upon
the political complexion of the var
ious committees who have charge OF
the legislative matters coming from
the Government departments. Hence
the cautious attitude in submitting
definite plans for appropriations for
1927.
The enactment of any major leg
islation at the next session is decided
ly remote. For instance, the rail
road executives would like to have the
so-called Parker Bill passed which
provides for permissive consolidation
of the railroads along natural lines,
as against compulsory consolidation
as required by the so-called Cummins
Railroad Bill. 1t is said that the
Parker bill is too liberal for the Sen
ate although it stands chance of
passing the House at a short session
in December. In view of the fact
that the election for Presidency is
due within "a short time, it is regard
ed almost a certainty that the Sen
ators would debate railroad CONSOLE
dation measures indefinitely, this att
titude precludes any possibility of
passing a railroad bill in the session
from December until March a. Pres
ident Coolidge is said to regard the
railroad consolidation measure as a
necessity to bring about reduction in
freight rates which is demanded by
the farmers and other shippers of the
country.
1t is evident that the farm relief
question is solving itself, or at least
interest has wanned in the political is
sue. The professional agitators find
that the farmers and their organizar
tions are particularly interested, al
present, in marketing their products
rather than talking about economic
or political woes. The Department
of Agriculture, through the Division
of Cooperative Marketing is doing it's
best to foster the impression the
farmers can help themselves far more
effectively than the Government
through legislative panaceas. It il
true that the Department of Agricul.
ture figures show that farm prices
generally, have dropped during the
last few weeks, but THE prices fol-
live stock are increasing. The farm
er usually takes more interest in vot
ing than the city chap and therefore
the politicians find more time to en-
large upon his economic affairs, es
pecially when they are the means fol
partisan gain.
| L.
President Coolidge's recent inter
view with Bruce Barton, persona
friend and professional publicist, ha;
provoked a storm in Washington. Tn,
corps of Washington newspaper cor
respondents is not at all pleased al
the position taken by the President il
permitting a personal friend to Civ,
direct quotations and personal inter
view when such is denied other writ
ers. 1T has revived the old issue %
| identifying the "Wlhite House spokes
man" in news dispatches. As the av
erage newspaper reader knows, TIL,
anonymous individual referred ito al
'fthe official spokesman" and eth,
White House authority is none othel
then the President of the Unite,
States.
The correspondents interview th,
President on Tuesdays and Fridays O
each week but are not. permitted II
make direct quotations from his re
marks. The complaint is made tina
this policy allows the President to us
newspapers in the sense of sflying
kite" THAT is, to sound out publ
sentiment without accepting the per
sonal responsibility for his remark
on current matters. By using tn
American press as a sounding boar
it is possible for the President t
deny the authorship of direct re
marks as reported by newspaper cor
respondents, especially if the Reaction
is not favorable to his plans. This i
a custom which became the vogue i,
the days of Roosevelt and all previ
our efforts ito make THE President a