South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-23
STATE POLITICS
TAKES BACK SEAT
Democrats Keep Pledge to
Adjourn Politics During
Loan Drive.

The democratic party throu ghout
Indiana is keeping its pledge to the
nation and 10 the Liberty loan Off
cials OF this state. 1t pledged tina
it would adjourn politics until tho
completion of the fourth Liberty
loan drive and il is doing just that.
No democratic meetings are being
scheduled--but meetings are being
scheduled for the purpose Of as
sisting in every way possible with
the Liberty loan drive. The re-
publicans. too. are turning all meet
ings held in a public way through
cut the state into booster meetings
for the loan. Under such condi-
tions the reports from all counties
in the state 10 state loan head
quarters here are roster than be-
fore any previous loan campaign.
At the same time that the loan
preparations are going on a great
feeling Of optimism is spreading
through state democratic headquar-
ters and this feeling of optimism is
nothing whatever but the reflection
of constantly optimistic reports
from practically every county chair
man in Indiana. The Indiana out
look is splendid for the democrats
and gradually they are coming 10
understand that.
Listlessness Il Missing
In talk with one of the men
who has been closest to the demo-
cratic campaign preparations in this
state today, the writer Of this dis
patch was impressed with the fact
that the former listlessness, which
characterized reports from demo-
cratic headquarters a year ago. is
entirely missing and in its place is
a feeling of determined organiza-
ton in every county that cannot but
be fruitful of winning results in
Indiana this fall.
The democrat in question was
asked TO say whether or not the
democrats would win a majority of
the congressional seats from Indi-
ana this fall. He is a naturally eau
tious man-not given 10 idle boasts
I'll say this much" he answer
ed, we've certainly got EN- wor-
ried in Indiana"
To those on the inside of the re-
publican campaign the fact that
the republican organization is wor-
lied is becoming every day increas-
ingly apparent. Many false starts,
both in organization and publicity
matters, have been made in this
campaign by the republicans. They
neither are sure of their ground Is
to their organization, or as TO the
position in which any efforts they
make will leave them before the
patriotic citizenship Of Indiana.
This condition is not Of dem ocratic
making as the republicans would
have the people believe The re-
publicans are uncertain of their
ground i'm Indiana for the simple
reason that some of their leaders
are uncertain as 10 where is the
best place 10 stand on war ques-
lions. If the republicans could make
up their minds, as a party. to abide
by a certain set policy concerning
their attitude toward the war and
its administration by the democrats
now in control in the nation, much
of the difficulty that now besets
them would be wiped away. But il
is the constant uncertainty as to
whether this or that thing that a
speaker may say will undo all the
work Of their campaign that keeps
them vaCcillating as to a real pol
isy. And. in such a position. il is
easy 10 see that little real progress
can be made.
No Results From Conferences.
There has been conference after
conference held by republican lead
ers at which attempts have been
made TO formulate a certain and
definite program for the campaign.
Apparently these conferences have
not produced results. the democratic
leaders here are aware. and out "in
the bushes" in Indiana II is EASY to
see that democrats are making
thousands Of votes because they
have no policies except to win the
war and win il quickly. The posi-
ton Of the entire republican party
in Indiana is one that is extremely
hard TO carry 20 any successful
l climax, even II leaders OF tremen-
4 dous ability were available 10 steer
the course Lack OF definite prog
ress in the campaign thus is 20 be
eXpected-and the Indiana demo-
Gratis know it now. and the result
ant spur TO tehir work throughout
the counties ought 10 result in n
I landslide OF democratic votes al the
November elections.
MEANWHILE the interim before
/ the real political battle begins-it
is splendid TO see the cooperation
which all political party men are
giving in the great effort 20 put IN
/ diana over the fourth Liberty loan
/ goal ahead Of the remaining states
! OF the Union. Probably never has a
I statewide movement in Indiana
/ been carried forward 10 a conclu-
/ sion with such earnest cooperation
| evident on every hand Men. who
/ have not had direct connection with
state work in the Liberty loan here
/ tofore, express themselves as being
I struck with wonder at the ease with
I which the fourth loan program is
/ being carried out In the state. The
/ credit FOR this SIM oofbuacg % .Lo