Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-13
FAINT PARTY LINES
Partisanship Said to Be at an
Unusually Low Ebb.
VIEWS OF 0LD-TIMERS
THEY EXPECT NOTHING FROM
THE COMING CONGRESS.
Republicans and Democrats May Be
Found Voting Together on More
Than One Question This Winter.

Old-timers in politics say that they cam
not recall the time when partisanship was
at so low ebb in this country It Is
at present; that is, in national sense.
To be sure. there is occasional rivalry be-
tween the two great parties in the states.
but there is little indication of healthy an
tagonism nationally
These observers go on to say that It
might be better for the country IL lnere
was more vigorous friction between two
great masses of the electorate. They are
not quite able to figure out Just at this
time wherein sharp lines of opposition could
be successfully drawn, and that fact ac-
counts. of course, for the lassitude in par
tisanship. The action or non-action OF
the next Congress may bring a crisis which
will again set the voters facing each other
in old-fashioned battle array.
Question of an Issue
The issue may arise over the question of
lower tariff, but the pon.ical sharps are
asking each other which party will carry
the banner. One wing of the republican
party is for tariff revision, end undoubted-
ly considerable faction in the democratic
party is of the "standpatters " faith. Re-
publicans want currency legislation; so do
democrats, and tne only disagreement be-
tween them is shared by members of both
parties alike as to the character and class
of the legislation Democrats are largely
opposed to ship subsidies. and the same is
true of a potential faction in the republic
party, powerful enough to have thus
far stood in the way of action.
On railroad-rate legislation democrats and
republicans divide alike, mainly with re-
gard to their business interests Neither
party could at this time claim an exclu-
sive trade mark for that brand of political
capital. The Philippine question is not an
issue and if the democrats came into pow
er they could not depart from the policies
the republicans enforcing In the islands
while there is no evidence that they could
better enforce them.
Deprived of the Calamity Cry.
With the continuation of the present
prosperous conditions of the country the
party which Is opposed to the party in pow
er will be deprived of one oe the favorite
resources of the opposition--a calamity cry.
The democracy has more than once fat
tened temporarily upon this although it
has never been able to retain the flesh 1t
took on. There Is no question that many
thousands of voters in this country are
earnest adherents of the republican party
today because they have seen the economic
policies Of that party work out into dol
lars and cents, of which they themselves
received a share
Ii is said that the coming Congress will
see republicans and democrats voting to-
gether upon more than one question and
republicans and democrats each separating
from their party upon other questions
These divisions, however, will be upon
shades of opinion rather than upon vital is
sues. That is where 1t will be difficult the
politicians say, to make practical party
capital.
Fixing the Responsibility.
Even failure of fulillment may be with
difficulty placed in responsible quarters be-
cause the voting will be OF such non-partd-
san character. Republican politicians say
that in this very situation may be found a
safeguard for them from criticism and re-
elimination. 1t is the opinion of the best
posted men in congressional and political
life that this Congress is very likely to be
"do-nothmg Congress" because of the
great conflict of interests and conglom-
Grafton of opinion.
Some of the shrewd old observers say that
about the only real credit to be gained out
of the coming session will accrue to Theo-
dore Roosevelt. If things go well he will
get the credit and If they fall out aniss
recalcitrant opposition will be blamed.
Logically Mr.. Roosevelts party will share
the credit, but then. the democrats claim
that some questions of democracy he Is
as good a democrat as the best of them.
So there you are.