The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-11
DEMOCRATS BLAME
KITCHIN AND COTTON
Southern Planters Made West
Hostile, They Insist, i'm De-
ploring Defeat.
sTiRREDUP SECTIONALIsM
Tax Burden Put on North
While South Escaped 1t,
Among Charges Made.
Special Despatch to THr sux.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1o.---Democratic
post mortems over the elections are in
variably finding Kitchin and cotton to
blame for large measure Of the
disaster which overlook the party last
Tuesday. Resentment Is being openly
expressed by some Northern Democrats
over the way the Southern Clique
dominating Congress put the party into
a. hole through refusing TO allow the
price of cotton to be fixed and at the
same time enabling Ktchin TO run away
with his tax theories by which the
North was taxed while the South
escaped.
There has never been much love lost
between the Southern and Northern
leaders OF the Democratic party. but the
Southerners have stuck together and
thereby have managed to dominate
the party and OBTAIN all the good COM
mittee cnairmanships. while the North
ern and Western Democrats have utterly
lacked the same power OF cohesion.
Northern Democrats are frank to con
fess that sectionalism has once more
brought defeat to the party and art
pouring maledicti,ns on the heads OF
some of the Southern leaders. who they
insist ignored the fact that the battE.-
ground would be In the Northern and
Western States and went on shaping
legislation which was largely repugnant
to the people of these communities.
Hope I'm the West Fails.
Two years ago the Democratic leaders
were jubilant because as they thought
they had won over the West from Re
pubficanisn. They believed that those
States could be kept in the Democratic
column by skilful management. Bu-
last Tuesday Kansas. Nebraska. Col
orado and even Missouri went Rtpub-
lican.
The responsibility for what happened
IL being charged TO Southerners, largely
oil the following grounds: Claude Kit
chin leader of the House and head Of
the Ways and Means Committee. spurned
all suggestions OF business interests for
equitable tax legislation, insisted Writ
ually that the cost of the war should
fall north of the Mason and Dixons line.
refused even to listen to appeals from
his own party associates from the North
and by his conduct made Kitohinisrn an
issue in practically every State where
the Democrats had a fight on their
no nds
The Southern Democrats voted almost
unanimously to Ak the price OF wheat
and voted against raising the price
when :heir party colleagues from the
West saw the feeling that was being
engendered among farmers, in Kansas,
Nebraska and other States which had
voted for Wilson in 1916.
Cotton Kept Holy.
At the same time every Southern
Democrat Joined in the declaration that
cotton must remain untouched and made
loud and angry protests when the Presi-
dent. through the War Industries Board
sought TO regulate the price in other
ways Kitchin and the other leaders
also turned down the suggestion Of Rep
resentative J. Hampton Moore and other
Republicans that a tax should be placed
on cotton as means of raising revenue
Postmaster-General Burl< son. who
comes from Texas. has assumed NOR"
and more the role OF the Presidents
political and legislative agent at tho
Capitol. to the disgust OF tho Northar7
and Western Democrats. and il is nov
charged that it was Mr.. Burleson m1rN
than anybody e!se who induced the
President to make a partisan appeal
though Democrats like Senator's Cha n
braska were bitterly opposed to IT,
OF course Democratic leaders here are
not ascribng their defeat entirely 10 the
foregoing reasons. Some of them have
informed the President In the last few
days that the 100000 soldiers IN
France. or large part Of them. surely
would have voted for him had they hcea
in this country and that thcir votes
would have been sufficient to turn the
result.
Also Blame German Vote.
Still another reason being advanced 20
account for the overthrow Ii tho Ger
man vote" Some leaders of the party
are insisting and have told the Presl-
dent that the German vote counted
heavily against them in the West. thouah
why it shou'% rot have been reflected r
the New York election they do not "X-
plain.
OF course now that they have lost, the
Democrats here. including some Of the
| Presidents closest friends profess 10 lc-
| lievc that the party a. an opposition
party will be in much better shape -
wage successful contest for the Presi.
dency In 1890 than II II had had to bear
tho responsibility for the legislation OF
the next two years, when the country
will have huge problem on its hands
and may possibly be facing serious in
dustrial and financial disturbances
Plans for the campaign two years
, hence are already In embryo. Most of
the Democratic leaders are already
prophcsying that Col. Roosevelt will 10
the Republican nominee. Most OF those
! indulginG in this prophecy declare I'm the
next breath that Col. Roosevelt's nom
lnatiou would eliminate the third term
issue and make 1t inevitable that tho
Democratic party should renominate
/ President Wilson.
PEACE TRADE.