The Washington herald., 1918-08-27

Mr.. Tom Lawson. OF Massachusetts,
expects to make the way a bit harder
for the election of Senator Weeks this
fall but whether he Will accomplish
his end remains TO be seen. There
are Democrats who believe Lawson
is a socialist pure and simple and
that he will merely make his game
so obnoxious to the voters that he
will help Weeks directly. There are
other Democrats who believe the at
tention to State or domestic issues
which will come from an airing by
Mr.. Lawson will center all eyes OIL
Weeks alleged stahdpattism and will
make It possible for Walsh to break
into his support.
All hands are united In the belief
that Walsh is popular. is good
mixer and a shrewd politician and
that he will make his way In the
crusade IL he can receive help from
some internal Republican source. That
is the only thing the Republicans
fear. II II comes they believe il will
weaken Weeks-if not they think he
can be counted to make up the party
strength in the organization OF the
next Senate.
Why did Mccall not continue In
he race against Weeks?
Massachusetts, papers gave II UP
and maybe we are presumptious fol-
essaying to solve It. Frankly we
think 1t was because Charley Baxter
happened to be across the water and
not in a position to help Mccall al
the nominating affair. Charley Baxter
is on some commission or other but
in fact he was first aid to the politi-
cally ambitious and Weeks prospec.
tive opponent found him so necessary
to the game that he wouldn't think
of making the race without him
Thus it is that some man behind the
scenes often dictates the moves oi
men whether he Is on the spot or far
from it
The ex-mayors up Boston way. tc
continue for another paragraph or
Bay State affairs, seem to be after
political power this year. Ex-Mayol
Fitzgerald or Honey Fitz" as they
call him. is q candidate and 50, IL
PexsMtyst Cufey any ako cex-Mayo|
Josiah Quincy Who q ohposingS Req,
resentative Tinkham for the pfaSs
which he now occupies. The Job oi
ruling a city has apparently only
whetted the appetites of the ex-
mayors and they want TO assume
greater responsibilities and the bur
dens that 60 with them.
In many States, so we observe
there are platforms written by polit'
ical parties in which every conceiv'
able reform is suggested and ap'
proved. And usually opposing these
platforms we find platforms which
contain the single plank Of prose
cution of the war to successful
conclusion"
There 10 no doubt as to which
brand will attract the people. The
platform with its mass of conglom'
crate will fall before the onslaught
while the pressing. necessary plat
form of win the war" will appea
to all voters and be the vehicle BY
which their enthusiasm for the wal
and determination to win 1t will bt
transported to the battlefelds oi
France. There are q multitude oi
question which might make inter
esting discussion now and which
perhaps, might not prove un'
wise II adopted. But 1t is no timt
to =. experiment, no time to allow
demagogues to adhere to these prin'
ciples and get through to vantage
points where they can do all man
ner OF harm in the step TOWARD
peace. The enormous task we hav.
before us Is the task upon which
our political men and our people
must center.
The lower house Of Congress!
thought it was passing just the kint
Of a draft bill the administration
wanted. and only that kind. But tn,
truth is there was one section whicl
the State Department Is said to hav,
looked upon with disfavor, while I
section which should have been pu
into the bill was left out altogether
Both defects will be remedied II
the Senate. Of course, the plac,
where all defects are remedied, wheI
the House has had its ideas incor
porated into legislation. Both o.
the provisions referred to had I,
do with aliens, and as 1t sometimes
does, the House gave little atten
tion to what might be the attitud,
Of the State Department on tn,
subject
Non-partisan leaguers received I
decided slap In Nebraska on prim
ary day largely because OF the ag
gressive way In which Governol
Neville went after them. He mere
iy issued an order refusing TO allow
their organizers to hold meetings 4,
thA state. This Naz alEectiyA III.