Evening star., 1929-11-17

has been drawn into this controversy.
The struggle which has been aroused
| over the tariff has been frequently
likened to that historic struggle, with
Its far-reaching political consequences,
which arose over the Payne -Aldrich bill
In 1909, in the days when insurgents
like Dolliver and the elder La Toilette
were pitted against the Senate leader
J ship OF Nelson w. Aldrich.
West and South Against East.
In consequence the regular session at
the outset will be confronted not alone
with legislative tasks of great gravity
and difficulty, but 1t will have on its
hands the unfinished tariff revision
task of the extra session and the condi-
tionS Will be much complicated by the
political and other antagonisms which
have been developing through the Fall
and last Summer.
These antagonisms are not alone DO
lltical. They arise in no small degree
from the claShing of industrial and
financial interests with agricultural and
consuming interests.
The course of events in recent months
has demonstrated more forcefully than
ever that 1t is impossible to bring about
a general revision of that highly COM
plicated structure, the tariff law, with
out engendering these antagonisms. To
considerable extent they have resulted
In the formation in the Senate Of an
alliance Of the strength Of the West
and South against the East plus certain
industrial sections in other parts Of the
country.
Insurgents Hold Balance.
President Hoover will have important
recommendations for legislation to
make In his first annual message to
the Congress, which, it is expected, will
be presented to both houses on Decem-
Der 3. These recommendations. how
ever, In this instance will hardly be
controlling as to the legislative course
OF Congress. The House may be ex-
pected to adhere closely to the wishes
and purposes of the administration,
On the other hand, the Senate will ap-
parently continue under the sway Of
the Democratic and insurgent combina-
ton which has shown its power so
often In the course Of the tariff con-
troverSy.
In other words, that bloc of Sena-
tors known as the progressive Repub-
lican or insurgent group, led by Sena-
tor George w. Norris Of Nebraska, with
Senator William E. Borah and Senator
Robert M. La Toilette. ir., factors of
influence, will apparently hold the bal
ance Of power. 1t may be doubted
whether any great piece of legislation
can be forced through the Senate which
does not in at least measurable degree
meet the views of this element.
Regulars Disorganized.
This Is likely to be the more true
because of the fact the regular Repub-
lican forces in the Senate are disor-
ganized or, at least, by no means COM
pactly organized. Senator James E.
Watson, Republican leader, has been
compelled in recent weeks to absent
himself by reason of health.
This has added to the weakness of
the regular Republican or admins
tration element already more or less
demoralized by the superior strength
of the Democratic-insurgent coalition,
which has such leadership as that of
Senator Joseph T. Robinson Of Arkansas
and Senator F. M. Simmons of North
Carolina. among the Democrats, and the
insurgent chieftains already mentioned.
with the veteran Norris, one of the
ablest parliamentary ,strategistS of Con-
gress. at their head
Some talk has been heard of o new
Republican leadership to diSplace Sem
ator Watson in the Senate, but. this
does not appear probable If the Indiana
member regains his health.
In the House the powerful Repub-
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