Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-07-17
ROCKWELL <. r. ID
Disturbing Partisau Claims.

Now that the reparations postponement
seems to be assured. il is to be hoped that
he President will turn his attention to the
plight Of the farmer and the general IN
employment. The Presidents proposal Of
a years vacation in international debts is
accepted everywhere as a promising con-
tribution to the ultimate recovery Of the
world from the economic doldrums Un-
fortunately. some of the enthusiasm has
been chilled by the inability Of the Presi-
dents partisans to abstain from dragging
the performance into domestic politics. Last
week the Majority Leader Of the Senate.
Watson Of Indiana. the chairman Of the
Senate Finance Committee. Smoot Of Utah
and the Republican publicity chief were
all guilty Of this departure from good taste.
More recently the State Department,
through its acting head. Mr. Castle. con-
tin0ed the process in a recital Of the sue
cessive steps taken by the President in
arriving at his decision. Nobody has sought
to deprive President Hoover OF what credit
attaches TO constructive act. He listened
to a great many opinions on the subject.
taking pains to make his conferences as
non-partisan as possible, and we know
that the Democratic statesmen he called in
were as helpful as those Of his own party.
The President himself clearly indicated
this in his statements to Washington cor
respondents. Moreover, he recognized from
the beginning that the matter had TO be
kept out Of partisan politics inasmuch as
1t requires Congressional action and the Re-
publican party will not control the Congress
that assemblies in December-of earlier. il
il Is felt necessary 70 get action before the
coming interest date for the war debts. II
would be most reerettsble II the effort to
make campaign material Of so distinctly
bipartisan accomplishment should sting the |
Presidents opponents, either in his own |
party or in the Democratic party. to acri-
mony in the coming session. The sort Of
flibuster that tine old irreconcilables in
voked TO balk President Wilson might work !
great harm to the debts postponement prop
osition even Though considerable majority |
Of both houses we're willing to 60 along with |
the President
Perhaps the safest way TO avoid such |
an unpleasant possibility would be for the /
President to consider the suggestion of
Senator Robinson, Of Arkansas, that he 4
come 10 the aid Of the farmers by swinging 4
to the popular side in the controversy over
the Smoot. Hawley tariff measure. There 4
is. however. no inhibition against the Presi- /
dents boldly declaring himself in favor Of
a tariff which would relieve not only the
farmer but the rest of the consuming public
from the injustices the existing tariff i'm
poses on them.
Senator Robinson admitted that such a
declaration by the President might be
construed into confession that the Demo- !
Gratis were right and the Republicans were
wrong in last years tariff battle. But as
he points out. the Democrats permitted no /
such consideration TO sway them in en-
dorsing the moratorium project and the
Senator expressed his belief that the Presi-
dent could well afford 10 take as broad
minded view Of the tariff calamity. He
might do this. as he promised. through the
Tariff Commission. which for more than a
year has been lowering around the edges
Of the tariff structure without touching a
single item of any considerable Importance.
He might do IL in a message to Congress.
with no loss Of prestige and mourning only
the danger that by 30 doing he might
forfeit the campaign contributions of the
favored interests with which they have
been accustomed to pay for tariff favors.