Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-22

On what issues will tho election of
a new Congress. six months hence. be
decided?
Members Of tho present Congress and
political leaders and thinkers III WASH
ington have begun 10 ASK that Ques-
ton with anxiety, daily becoming
more acute. Thus tar the answers at.
indefinite ana the SurmiseS iraL4Ic ou.
" the ends into ann SpccuIationS Nuu
tansivS OF possible supposIIiono
Spe.her Clark says Inc neat Lonsiess
VIII DC Democratic because the people
VAL MAKE sure tiIAL the PRESIDENT snail
itdEe hearty support in Inc pIosGCu-
ton OIL the war. Chairman nays, o.
the kcpuuiIcan National Committee,
says the Congress %iii itcpuDi.cau
because the country is Republican, ana
the present Democratic dominance is
the result Of Huncs wnicn VIII not lie
repeated ana OF split wulcn has uccu
Acaieu permanently. That is as far
as Nc get III the way OF authoritative
forecast. 1t isn't very TAR 1t means
nothinS, when is precisely what rs
known OF the subject by Inc most in
tiinately informed.
Events and conditions may develop
serious issues. NOW we have none
me parties are as one for the prose-
cution OIL the war. Each tries TO 40
neS ohd the other In demonstrating pa
triotiSin anu DISCRIMINATION 10 wan at
any cost and regardless Of time and
effort required. There is no talk and
SO lar as can be known, no Thought
any Where IN this country OF peace
snort OF unconditional surrender and
submission by the central powers
Neither party can Suggest terms OF
peace too hard or harsh for it's rival
TO indorse. Everywhere in tho coun-
Try the nate against the Germans in
tcnsihes and dcepcns. This process
VIII continue. AS the casualty lists
Sdrry INTO cities. towns and neighbour
hoods notice OF personal bereuvcnents
they VIII arouse passion for personal
vengeance. We have been too long a,
peace 10 know how to accept phiio-
sophically the fortune OF war. Wher-
ever notice Is received OF the death of
an American soldier his family and
neiGnDors VIII feel that he was muir
! dered by the Kaiser. Men with no.
itical ambitions. regardless OF party
ana even OF their individual senti-
ments must bow to this growing fur
II Is safe to predict now that If there
| lis in the country one congressional
district in which 4 man could uppcar
uuNocatinE early and easy peace and
escape with whole skin. there Will be
no such district in November Not
even sweeping victory OF the allies
ana humble proposals from the Ger
mans would mollify public feeling
All the economic. social and internal
or interna tional questions on which
parties have divided and over which
we have wrought ourselves up In time
or peace have been swept aside Now
ana then some relic of past recent
measured by months but b. ,nterven-
ing events made immeasurably remote.
pipes up something OF the need for pro-
tective tariffs after the war. The sound
or such piping goes nowhere beyond
the p!pers own ears. Prohibition has
been rclegated to the States Woman
suffrage !s showed !mpat!crtlv into
next week and then into the week
after, as man procrastinatcs with an
annoying un!mportancc which some
body pers!stcntly thrusts on his notice
while he is concerned with large things.
Members OF Congress who mus, face
contests realize this absence OF issue.
A few Democrats talk hopefully OF
sweeping party victory on the party
record OF standing by the President.
| The Republicans are ready to nee,
this by showing that they also have
stood by him and with evidence that
on important occasions he would have
been baHled and hGmpered II he had
depended on his own party. Probably
the large majority OF members, doubt
ing whether there will be distinc,
issue enlistinE party strength and
organizations. understand THAI inspcc.
ton, patching ana rebuilding OF per.
sonal fences Is required more than eve.
before. This may explain the obvious
and urgent desire OF Congress TO adj.
journ and allow Representatives and
Senator's 10 go home.
The one point, now an apparent nos