First Assault

Omen. Before men are done to death in battle, before walled towns are razed and wide-wayed cities sacked, there is almost invariably a potent omen. At Aulis it was a serpent with a blood-red back. In Roman days it was frequently a pair of eagles or a flight of swans.

Last week as the warriors of the Tariff assembled in the Senate Chamber, above their heads came a sudden whir of wings. Looking up they beheld a pigeon gliding overhead. For a moment the ominous bird alighted above the battle on the edge of the Press Gallery. An eager correspondent snatched at it. The bird soared from his grasp leaving in his hand a single large tail feather. Settling on the architrave above a doorway, the ominous pigeon cooed and looked down the whole day long upon the high, industrial tariff army of Generalissimo Reed Smoot (Utah) and the low, consumer tariff army of Field Marshal Furnifold McLendel Simmons (North Carolina).

Bombing Attack. The freebooting ally of Marshal Simmons, General Borah of Idaho, leader of the Republican irregulars, opened the battle by leading a bombing attack on Manufacturing City. As his mighty bombers swept over the smoking chimneys, he first dropped propaganda on the citizens: "The total value of the manufactures imported to the United States in 1928 was less than 3.4% of the total domestic production of manufactured goods in the United States. We are now living practically under an embargo, so far as manufactured goods are concerned.

"I am speaking as a protectionist, and I cannot see how it can be well argued that where the exports are increasing and the imports decreasing-and we import only 4% of our manufactured goods-is necessary to extend the doctrine any further."

Then hovering over the steel works of the enemy he dropped his major charges, one after another: "The United States Steel Company's earnings for the second quarter of 1929 were the highest in its history, to wit, $71,995,561. That amounts to $6.68 a share on 7,116.235 common shares outstanding on June 30, 1929, and $5.91 a share on 8,030,334 shares of recent issue."

"The Bethlehem Company had a gain of 160% in earnings the first six months of 1929."

"The Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company showed 145% increased earnings, and I do not suppose this includes Mr. Shearer's payment."

"The Republic Iron and Steel Company showed increased earnings of 208%."

The Otis Steel Company showed increased earnings of 78%."

"The Jones & Laughlin Company showed increased earnings of 42%."

"Senators, this is the condition of an industry which has asked and is receiving additional protection under this bill."

"In this maneuver he made a tactical error, an infraction of the rules of Senatized warfare, but in the verve of his attack it was overlooked: he should not have addressed himself to the "Senators," he should have addressed the chair saying "Mr. President."

The attack had hardly been consummated when from the Republican side Major-General Reed of Pennsylvania leaped into a fighting plane and pursued the Borah bomber with a stream of machine gun bullets: "I wonder whether the time may not some day come when the self-chosen advocate of the farmer's cause will himself realize the truth that we are advantaging the American-farmer as we increase the prosperity of the cities of America."

Fraternizing. Darkness came and the camp fires gleamed upon the field. When dawn broke, several divisions of Republican regulars were discovered in Lumber Wood. Brigadiers McNary and Steiwer of Oregon with other western Republican officers -Johnson of California among them -were gathered in conclave. The Republican high command had decided that lumber and shingles should go on the free list, abandoned to the enemy. Unwilling that this should happen because of sentiment at home, the Westerners urged formation of a western bloc, talked of getting 13 Republican brigades to defend the wood, hoped to induce six western Democratic brigadiers to yield the ground to them for a division of the spoil. Fearing the result of such fraternizing, the Republican high command looked on alarmed.

Rectifying the Line. Before Flexible Tariff Ridge, where the protectionists awaited the assault, Republican leaders voluntarily abandoned a salient which they feared would fall. The line authorizing the President to increase tariffs after investigating "conditions of competition" in U.S. markets between home-made and imported goods, was given up. General Borah's troops were already massing against it.

Opium Ships. Generals Couzens of Michigan and Robinson of Arkansas suddenly moved to insert a provision in the tariff bill making the owners as well as the skippers of ships subject to fine for bringing illicit opium to the U. S. As they opened fire, Republicans and Democrats alike turned their guns on the opium fleet. For a few moments a hot fusillade from both sides poured into the invaders lying at anchor off the shore.

Trench Talk. Sometime ago the protectionist forces abandoned manganese to the free list. The antitariff army taking possession of the trenches in the abandoned manganese sector, taunted their opponents. Brigadier-General Bingham denied that he had been asked by President Hoover to put manganese on the free list. denied that he had changed his vote upon the question (TIME, Aug. 26). General Couzens cried that the motion to abandon the sector had been made by "our leader" (i. e., Lieutenant-General Watson ).

"Who is your leader?" cried Democrats, deriding division in Republican councils.

"We have only one regular leader on the Republican side, although we have several pseudo leaders,"answered General Couzens.

"We have only one leader -that we do not follow," retorted irregular General Borah.

Repulse. In desultory fighting along the administrative provisions sector of the tariff (centre of which is Flexible Tariff Ridge) the Democrats met a minor repulse. Changing the wording of the paragraphs regarding branding of foreign made goods ("Made in Germany," etc.) with cries that it was framed not for its obvious purpose but so as to make it difficult for foreign manufacturers to comply satisfactorily, they took the position, held it for a moment, then on a second vote were driven out. 40 to 32.

The Farm Lowlands. Leaders of neither side wished to invade the farm lowlands-Wheat Valley, Corn Bottom, Hog Wallow, Cotton Hollow, etc., etc. Sound strategy was it for both to avoid becoming mixed there. Both proclaimed that they would protect the people of the lowlands, both chided their opponents with doing nothing for the lowlanders. Democratic Brigadier-General McKellar of Tennessee taking a post beside the lowland dikes cried out with lumbering Irish sarcasm: "The farmer gets his uncut diamonds free but to compensate him for this he must pay 9 -c- a pound for his aluminum ware. You all know 'Uncle Andy' Mellon has a great aluminum trust, and I am sure that the government and the farmer realize it."

"The farmer has to pay more for his ropes, his jute, his twine, his cord and for all woolen fabrics. His wife has to pay more for her towels, table linens, napkins, handkerchiefs, bags, matting and linoleums; but under the beneficial provision of this bill, what does all this matter if the farmer and his wife are able to get their silks free?"

Caucus. The rank and file of Republican Generals became enraged at these Democratic taunts and jibes and raids. Eager to reply they demanded and forced the summoning of a Caucus of War to decide whether they should any longer be held inactive. Nothing definite was decided on that point, for Republican leadership did not wish to delay the Democratic attack and a final decision. But it was decided that henceforward battle would be joined at n a. m. instead of noon, afterward perhaps at 10 a. m., and that finally if necessary the fighting should continue in the night, thereby depriving the tireless of their meed of rest upon their couches.

Trench Raid. A minor action was brought on in the Administrative Provisions Sector when Democrats and Insurgents attacked a provision permitting refund of the duty on wheat which is re-exported after being milled. Under this provision in the present law Canadian wheat has been shipped to Cuba as flour. It was claimed that if the provision were removed, Cuba would import wheat not only milled but grown in the U. S. When the rush was made on this trench, nearly all the Republicans hastily departed leaving only 18 behind who were speedily overcome by 51 attackers.

Ammunition Supply. Having opened up the road to the Treasury Department, Democrats and Insurgent Republicans rushed more and more requests for corporation tax reports-some 1,400 all told. The Treasury Department answered that no one road could carry so much traffic in less than two months. It offered, however, to supply less elaborate information in a reasonable time.

Troops not in Action. Quarter-Master-General Jouett Shouse (chairman of the Democratic National Committee), and Major General Watson last week relinquished temporarily the radio stations whence they have been broadcasting propaganda. Nor did the Whitehousehold troops come into action. Lieutenant-General Watson shouted from the breast-works that he had advised the President to stay out of the fray. Democratic Chief of Staff Harrison answered with taunts that the President would have joined the Republican line if he approved their cause. Also out of action but massing for attack were the feminine divisions under Brigadier-General Mary Norton of New Jersey, waiting for the House to meet. Meanwhile the low tariff troops were quietly massing for vigorous attacks on Brickonopolis and Fort Cement, particularly the latter.