The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-24
United Party Preferable.

would rather take their chances on
lne impression which a united party
gan make BY putting through needed
legislation than on satisfying a de-
nhaha which Is based or the past, not
In other words, the men who are
most anxious for Republican success
~ lyZO and who recognize that, DO
ntieally, speaking, Penrose might be
something Of a handicap, are not al
aii ~ungrateful to the progresslves for
sWtFntns up = russ. For. they regard
OF tonic, to the party itself. The Re-
publican. party draws It's strength from
vi sections OF the country and the
Leaders here know full well that both
Senators. Borah and johnson reflect
= considerable public sentiment on
n not conservatives in Important
committees, But whether the Same
puhlio sediment is strong enough to
warrant a clean break inside in the
republican party and endanger the
'partys chances of success In 1920 Is
quite another question.
2 problem as II would be put UP
70 the average Wosterner is this:
eastern Republicans want Penrose
ana mean to stick by him. As a d.
yided party, We have no chance In 1920.
united, we can win, and there Ia plenty
" NhnS W nptEhllLe LnB party Wnen
We get possession Of all branches OF
Tire government,
The above Ia virtually the argument
which Eastern Republicans have put I'm
70 their senatorial colleagues from the
West in tho private conferences which
Y been going on In the last few
uaSS IN an efort to bring out harmony.
Assurance Of Behavior.
DO the Western Progressives want
70 provoke q controversy that will In
terfere with the smooth working Of the
party In both houses OF congress?
Thcre IL much talk about reforms and
CONFESSIONS and ,regenerations, Under
the surface a kind Of assurance OF
good behavior IL being given, 1t is
contended that the days of Aldrlch are
past and that Senator Penrose TODAY
and Senator Penrose of eight years
ago are different persons, because their
power 70 control the Republican party |
on Penrose is held to be indication of
the amount OF prestige and power he |
Will be able TO exhibit He will be
followed only insofar MS he represents |
the sentiment OF all geographical fac |
lions OF the party. He viii be deserted
he should endeayor to control the
As a substitute for individual leader |
ship, The senate Republicans believe |
they can use the party conference. The
Democrats have lone 30 with consider |
able success in putting through the
tariff and banking legislation and the
Mep9 ps "a plan to initiate that side
But HE fear OF defeat In 1920. which |
In important to 80 many would be pres !
idential candidates in the senate, and
the argument of party harmony has
brought about a collapse Of the fight
hat lunar, NhA NrnFra1uaxVAG AsA A. -.
servatives. The Democrats are re-
joicing over the dilemma, But the ex-
tent to which they win be able TO re- |
joice is also dependent upon what the
senate Republicans do with needed leg
islatlon In the 9 two years, II their
record is good there Will not be much
In the argument that Senator PEN
rose was chairman of a senate com
mittee. II II is a bad record, the Re
publlcans Will have to shoulder respon-
sibility for the whole business any way.
The same kind OF u fight was started
In 1912 just after President Wilson was
elected. Senator Simmons and other
conservative Democrats were objected
TO by the progressives In the Demo-
cratic party, MIR. simmons was ac-
cused OF voting with the Republicans
on the lumber schedule In the Payne
Aldrich tariff law. But In the interest
OF the party harmony, MIR, Wilson be-
lieved It would be best to work with
men like Simmons who were familiar
with tariff legislation. He himself ex-
pected to exercise a supervising eye
on such matters and prevent any pro-
t~ectionist from interfering with the
passage OF a lower tariff. But Il turned
out that Senator Simmons was one OF
the few Democrats who knew tariff
legislation at all. And his management
OF the Underwood Simmons law while
II was in the senate was so skillful
that the late Senator Gallinger, OF New
Hampshire, Republican leader, paid a
public tribute to the North Carolina
senator on the night the tariff bill was
passed.
Senator Penrose has the same chance
TO serve his party by giving up his per-
sonai views II n majority OF his coll
leagues In conference decide against
such proposals as he may make, The
future, not the past, will determine
whether Penrose has seen the signs OF
the times, Evidently the leaders OF
the party think he has, Hence their
readiness TO stick by him. The an
swer will be known when congress gets
busy.
Copyright, 1919, by the New York
EynplnC pn4f Inc