Voice from Olympus

Once again across the Tariff battlefield in the Senate rumbled the awful Voice from the White House. Weary Senate warriors paused in the confusion of conflict to give ear. In an Olympian third person, the Voice declared:

"The President was visited by a number of Senators (who) presented to him the grave situation that has arisen by delays in tariff legislation. . . . Some of the Senators considered progress hopeless as it appeared to them that the coalition intended to delay or defeat legislation. . . . "The President said . . . that campaign promises should be carried out . . . that he could not believe and therefore would not admit that the U. S. Senate was unable to legislate.

"The President has declined to interfere or express any opinion on the details of rates . . . but he pointed out that the wide differences of opinion and the length of the discussions in the Senate were themselves ample demonstration of the desirability of a real flexible clause in order that injustice in rates could be promptly corrected. . . . "He urged the Republican leaders to get together and see if they could not . . . thus send the bill to conference with the House within the next two weeks."

What had prompted this Utterance was the growing defeatist attitude of the regular Republican cohorts in the Senate. There had been talk of outright surrender to the coalition of Democrats and Progressive Republicans, of adjourning the Senate Nov. 15 and leaving the Tariff Bill supine upon a deserted field. Such futility had pervaded the Republican camp that Brigadier Hiram Johnson of California remarked to his comrades-in-arms:

"I don't know where we're at. Are we going to have a tariff bill? If not, let's not meet here at 10 o'clock every day and sit until six and go through the motions of considering this bill. Let's meet at twelve and adjourn at one and then Senators can go out on the golf links every day!" *

The Voice from the White House had hardly died away, before the Senate battlefield rang with a new and deafening clamor. Again stacking their arms. Senate warriors fell to loud and disputatious shouting as to the responsibilities for tariff delays. Two weeks had been spent on the first of 15 separate rate schedules in the bill. All were agreed upon the impossibility of complying with the Olympian command that the measure be disposed of in the same length of time.

Sample war shouts:

Major General Reed of Pennsylvania: "The bill's as dead as a dodo. Debate is a mockery . . . but I for one will not agree to let the bill go through without adequate debate."

Freebooting General Borah, coalition co-leader: "Campaign pledges should be kept. That is what some of us are trying to do. ... The Senate will legislate, but it will take some time. . . . Remember, it takes longer to do a good job than a bad one."

Democratic Field Marshal Simmons: "The President's proposal is preposterous! We can't pass a tariff bill in any two weeks!"

From the battlefield departed Republican Chief of Staff Watson of Indiana, worn to a frazzle by the tariff fray. His physician had ordered a three-week "rest" in Florida. Gossipers spoke of the failure of his leadership, predicted that Brigadier Charles McNary of Oregon would soon be advanced to Chief of Staff. So feeble became the tariff fighting that Democratic Chief of Staff Robinson also went off, for a fortnight's holiday in Arkansas. Combat came to a farcical standstill on Saturday when brigadier generals deserted wholesale. General Edge went to New Jersey, preventing action on his earthenware schedules, whereas any action in the metals salient was checked by the absence of General Reed. Even Field Marshal Simmons left his front-line headquarters for the rear. Democratic Adjutant General Walsh (of Montana) stormed: "I object to Saturday being made a day of leisure for some Senators and a day of work for others."

Cried Democratic Gunner Harrison of Mississippi: "I come from a part of the country where people don't believe much in working Saturday afternoon. I share that view. We have had long hours here. Let's see some football, take an auto ride, play golf. We need recreation."

Thereupon the Senate warriors all adjourned, sought recreation.

*No Rolfer is Senator Johnson. He swims in California, takes ''work-outs" in the Senate gymnasium.