Evening star., 1917-12-25
BOOM IN POLITICS
ON 1918 PROGRAM
Senate and House Close, War
Issues Up, 1920 in
Distance.
BOTH PARTIES ON ALERT

After the first of the year there will
be boom in political activities Of both
the great parties. The campaign for the
Senate and House of Representatives.
which will eliminate in November of
next year, is classed as national in as
pect and as of more than ordinary
countrywide importance.
The enhanced significance of the ap-
preaching campaign is attributable to
several considerations. 1t lays the
groundwork for the presidential cleo
tions of 1920. The fact that the two
parties are SO closely divided in the
House and with margin in the Senate
that is susceptible Of being reversed
next year or increased, as the case may
he gives tremendous impetus to ef-
forts to carry the elections in the fall.
Doubt and Sporting Zest Present.
Moreover, the lack of radical de-
markation between the policies and
principles of the two parties lends an
element of doubt to the outcome as
we'll as a sporting zest in the game.
With the war continuing through 1915.
old time party fetiches will be taboo
The party that talks tariff will be as
one crying in the wilderness. Prohibi-
ton cannot be claimed by either party.
not even the prohibition party. as per
sona1 asset. The evenly devided repub-
lican and democratic vote in the House
on the Constitutional amendment set
tied that. Government ownership may
by election day be practically in actual
operation on the railroads. Stand by
the President" may fall fat. as both
parties in Congress and the country are
now standing side by side with him.
Voters may, it is thought now by
politicians, have to fall back under old
party nomenclatures without having
anything especially distinctive to point
to as warranting the segregation. A
man will be a democrat or republican
because he has always been one. or ms
father is one, or some friend is candi-
date on the ticket. Or he may toss
coin for the choice, il not over partfcu
lar, for all the principles attached.
Business Interests in Politics.
And yet in this twilight zone Of par
tisan indistinctiveness will be fought
one of the most intensive campaigns
witnessed in many years. tits already
quite evident that business and indus
trial interests Of the country Will take
than they have exerted since Mark
Hanna rallied them to- the support of
sound money in 189S.sly; 81 81. Il s. sssstss
{ Ii ID not vet ~ tpee nse AZ
the two old PARTIES VIII capitalize the
psn..spa.ao1 epspaIsa Il & may nsss assFsss asIf
party WI get 1t LII gross. but that II HaAy
be represented In the PERSONAL OF the
candidates for House and Senate. That
Is to say, the capacity and tendencies OF
candidates will be more important than
their party classification.
Glass Legislation In Congress.
The present Congress has given the
business Of the country an exSsnple OF
violent, not to say virulent, class legisla-
ton, which will begin to make itself felt
Just about the time congressman are COM
their works will be evidence at one and the
same time And they do not all belong
to one party. either; there are republicans.
progressiyes and hitherto regulars as well
as democrats whose votes are on record
and speeches in print.
One of the first activities of the new
year will be the reorganization of the
republican congressional campaign COM
mittee the body which is supposed to
conduct campaigns for the election Of
members Of the House of Representa-
tives. In the past two campaigns, how
ever, the organization has not maintained
the traditions of former committees, and
tho result, it is claimed, is shown in the
reduced republican representation. Fac
tional and personal jeaIousies are gener-
ally assumed to have contributed to the
situation.