Evening star., 1918-07-12
$3.50 Plan in Vogue,

WI ti4dt tLis Is lO Ue tHe case is
already being furnished in the nomi-
nations. In several states there is dis
position among democrats and repuh-
flicans to combine upon candidates,
the democrats supporting the incum-
bent or prospective republican candi-
date in the district and the republic
ans standing by the democrat in an
other. following a 'ffty-fifty'' rule as
nearly as possible. z
Even in the senatorial fight. the
same spirit is prevailing in some in
stances. In Idaho. Nugent and Borah
will get the nomination of their party
and both will be elected by the COM
bined democratic. republican and nom
Partisan League vote. In some other
states there will be no party contest
against the incumbent senator. as in
Minnesota, where no one will oppose
Senator Nelson.
But the election. taken by and
large, is not going to be any po-
litical love feast at that. Both
parties are "out fer blood in seek
ing she control of the House. and
count upon securing it by capturing
a sufficient number of the 100 dis
tricts recognized as doubtful and
holding on to the perilously close dis
tricts.
All on Same Issue.
The issue? Well. there is no issue
that can be set forth in political
specifications and outlined in a blue
print Both parties stand for win
ming the war, for a conclusive peace.
based on the rights of the governed,
for the United States first and all
the time, and SO on. The republicans
claim that they have furnished more
%or a in the House
than the democrats. But, granting
that the journal of the House should
show 1t, is that conclusive argu-
ment to a democrat to shift his votes.
or for an independent to determine
his vote, leaving everything else out
Of consideration. it is asked?
The republicans say that pro-
tective tariff will be needed after the
war. "All right reply the demo-
Gratis. there is the Tariff Board now
getting ready to suggest schedules
for the welfare of this country. SO
drop the tariff talk"
Mentality Claims.
The republicans claim that their
party has always been. and still is.
the party of progress and has all
the brains of the country
Whereupon the democrats say: "Oh,
we don't know about that. Seems to
MS that we have created the federal
reserve system and few other salu-
tary laws, financed the war and
shown a modicum at least OF ability
TO govern Moreover, when 1t comes
to political management, LOOKS s, ike
we taught you few new tricks n
the campaign of 1916"
A thoughtful voter. coming to ana
1--WE the platforms Of the two parties
thus far set forth in state conven-
tions, taking the Indiana documents
the principle difference between the
announced doctrines of the two par
ties lies in the declaration Of the re-
nnblicans against a tendency to So
cialism and paternalism. stronger
than any pronouncemnt OF the DEM
ocrats upon that subject
But the politicians say that the
rank and file of the voters are not
Of a thoughtful, analytical cast; that
they follow largely their party incli-
nations unless there is some sharp
issue, such as the monetary or tariff
reform, as the Non-Partisan Leaguers
present, to attract the attention of
the man in the middle of the road.
Fear Presidents Influence.
After all is said and done, what the
republicans now fear most and the
democrats count upon heaviest. is the
beneht expected to accrue to demo-
cratic candidates reflected from the
personal popularity of President Will
son with people of all parties in his
conduct of the country's destinies in
The politicians say that If he should
come out in the last days of the cam
paign with an appeal for the election
of a democratic House and the con-
tinuance of democratic Senate the
republicans would face difficult sit
uation.
Outside of this possible determing
element on the outcome, the cam
paign Is expected to be in large
measure a matching of political wits,
of skill in management and of or
ganization. The democrats do not ad-
nit that they are second in these re-
apectA =. --s---t.