OCR Text |
Show iTo. P. MOST CHAMPION CAUSE OF FARMERS , LOSS OF VOTES TO THIRD PARTY HELD THE ALTERNATIVE Si x viok BUR Ml .IOIINSOX Continued Assaults on Agriculture Agri-culture Bloc Leading to Break BY BARRY TTVNT WASHINGTON. Continued assaults by administration and old guard leaders lead-ers on tho agricultural bloc In Congress Con-gress will bring one of two results, disinterested observers are convinced. These results arc ne Either recognition and acceptance ac-ceptance by party leaders of the necessity ne-cessity of dealing as helpfully with agriculture ag-riculture as with manufacturing, transportation trans-portation or finance, or Two The loss by tho Republican party of a great section of the agricultural agri-cultural vote which swept it into power pow-er in 1920. Tho first would mean the passing Of party control from the New England Eng-land industrial bloc, which heretofore has held the whiphand in deciding Republican Re-publican policies. Instead of Lode- -Ilale-Frelinghuy-sen-Dupont leadership, there would bo ! at least an equal voice accorded the Kenyon-Norrls-Oappor-Lenroot style of statesman- Henator Kenyon. however. .was recently nominated for a Judgeship Judge-ship In the federal courts. The second would Inevitably result re-sult in the transfer of disaffect-fj od Republican votes to a new third party, organized along lines to draw from both former G. O. P. and Democratic Demo-cratic ranks and with special appeal ! to the agricultural, labor and woman's vote. MIDI'I i I sT WROUGHT I P ! Tho political situation resulting, from the continued hammering of the bloc by the president and administration administra-tion leaders Is rapidly getting away from the members f the bloc themselves. them-selves. The antogonism being created throughout the middle west, west and south is unmistakable in the growing colume of letters pouring In on bloc senators from their constituents constitu-ents It was also clearly evidenced by the outspoken support, in dli-gard of tho definitely indicated desire of the president, by the agricultural conference. In the main members of the bloc are good party men. They do not want to wreck the G O. P, They nro only speaking for what they believe be-lieve to be Justice for their constituents constitu-ents That they have been able to carry through many of the measures they have sponsored they declare is proof of tho right and Justice of their demands de-mands Ki si kyi: no i:d tilt For instance: FoUdwlng the vote on the proposal to place a representative of agriculture agricul-ture on the Federal Reserve hoard, on which only seven Repuhll. ans vote, "no" although powerful administration ad-ministration pressure hn.l attempted to defeat the measure Senator Kcn-von Kcn-von want to Senators Hale and Fre-llnghuysen. Fre-llnghuysen. "What are you fellows trying to do?" he asked, "wreck the Republican Republi-can party? You're only part of a little group of recalcitrants. Seven votes la all you couM muster. Why should a little minority like yours Jeopardize the party's welfare, against what is clearly the wishes of the greater majority?" "That was the kind of talk they had been handing us fellows who proposed the measure," Kenyon said afterward. "I couldn't resist passing pass-ing It back to them ' "The truth Is that the administration administra-tion and alleged party leaders have been doing everything possible to belittle be-little th-- members of the no-called bloc an.l discredit it with the people '"The very term "bloc" was originated origi-nated to set us aside as a special Kroup, Btrivln? for special consideration considera-tion for agriculture Of Course, we're dolnsr nothlnK of the sort- "We're no more of a bloc In that sense than those representatives who have suonsorod specific manufacturing, manu-facturing, shipping or financial measures constitute 'Industrial blocs.' or 'railroad blocs' or 'banking blocs." "The welfare of agriculture is vitij.1 not alone to acrlctilt'ir,- but the Interests In-terests ,-,f the whole nation. WOULD DELTXTLE B1VOO "Now they are setting up the cry thnt someone In the agricultural bloc wants to be president That Is Just nnother attempt to belittle and discredit dis-credit those who are fhrhting for a square deal for ajrriculure. "I know nohlng of my plans for I Organisation of the third party. Thnt bloc appears to me unnecessary. The blor appears to bo doing very well and support for it throughout the country Is growing "If the Republican party l wrecked, wreck-ed, It won't be hy members of the blor but by these leaders who refuse to heed the needs and demands of the majority " "All sorts of devices have been rc- . sassssV-JL- VH3 Hi SENATOR WILLIAM BORAH SENATOR GEORGE W. soRIUS if SECRl IMA mi k JOHN W SENATOR WILLIAM S KENYON WEEKS ported to by the party leaders to j weaken the strength of the bloc." said Senator George W. Norrls. "They pick them off, singly or in groups, by the trading support on pet measures or otherwise placating thorn, "The talk that the bloc, as such, will furm a third party In nonsense. Really, there is not any bloc. VOTING EJNES MIIFT "The lines change and ahitt on very ni 1 ur- The r. u resentment and hostility has been created among the farmers by the attempts of the administration to side-truck and defeat de-feat legislation designed to give the farmer the ssmc decree of assistance given other industries. What that muy result in no one can fortell." Action by tho agricultural confer-enc. confer-enc. called by President Harding, in adopting a resolution "commending and approving" the work of the bloc I was a distinct shock to adminlstra- i lion leaders. i Inasmuch as the president, in his opening address to the conference, j deviated from his set speech to take a slap at the bloc, it would appear to indicate rather definitely the way I the wind is blow lng Careful watching for signs of di-i vision in tho Q. O. P. because of bloc activities are Senators W. IS Borah and Hiram Johnson. Hoth are much more ready to forecast the birth 01 a third party than is any member of the agricultural group. M Y UISSATISJ ED Whether the third party Will come. howovei ns a result of division over agricultural tiuc.-'iionn, or over the bonus or over the nations forelf?n policy, or otherwise, they are not ready to predict. "1 here is no doubt," Borah de- clared "that there Is deep and wide-spread wide-spread dissatisfaction with both old parties- We are in much the same Situation as existed in ll52. "Nobody knows Just when or where a party Is born. Then- ire half a dozen authentic birthplaces of th- Republican part "But we do know something of tin-conditions tin-conditions out of which they are born. And. in the present situation in this country, the appearance of a third party should occasion no surprise, sur-prise, it not only appears possible, but almost Inevitable." |