The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-17
NUMEROUS BOOMS
FOR 1920 BUSY
IN WASHINGTON
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The News
ScImltarl

tIai politics keeps on gathering momen-
IuIn as the candidates, would-be can
uuates n their friends and boosters
IN this vicinity begin working toward
the goal Of 1920. But the fact that Is
Dulklhg larger daily is the uncertainty
mat the fight win be between the
Democratic and Republican parties as
such. Other factors, possibly an inde-
pendent lcke altogether, are no long
er secuted as purely theoretical.
There is evidence that the waves of
opinion wa&ted here from over the
country are not solidly for Republican
OF Democratic parties but are begin
nlng to wonder If both have not out
lVed their usefulness.
campaigns begun by such publica-
TONS OF as wide circulation as the
saturday Evening Post for an indepen-
dent candidate have attracted the at
tention OF the politicians and the de-
mand for a business executive though
not necessarily a representative of big
business Is being interpreted by friends
OF the various candidates as exactly
the thing which their respective idols
arc qualified to do.
NO small part of the movement for
an Independent candidate and a man
with the business sense to manage an
institution like the government Of the
United States comes from friends OF
Herbert Hoover. former food admins
traitor. And the manner in which the
suggestion is being acclaimed indicates
that when the candidates are sifted
and chosen, the name Of Hoover will
remain,
Both Favor Him.
Friendliness to Hoover is to be found
In both the ranks OF the Democrats
and Repuhlicans-not the party politi-
clans, but the independents or progress
sives In each party. Mr.. Hoover, so
to- -, N~-ww, .unft -A.Eta,,l, -I,r - D.
publican or Democrat. From the fact
that he is a mining engineer and man
OF huge enterprises, Republicans as
sumo that he must be of their party
and must share their party's viewpoint
on domestic affairs. From the fact
that Mr.. Hoover didn't hesitate to
support the presidents appeal for a
Democratic congress last autumn and
that he didn't hesitate to say out
spokenly that he favored the league
of nations, the Democrats nave derived
considerable satisfaction. Some Demo-
Gratis friendly to Mr., Hoover think that
ever II he were nominated on an in
dependent ticket, he might get the in
dorsement of the Democratic party.
But this, as well as the general ten
dency at present to pick a man ir-
respective of what the issues may be
later only reveals the general similar
ity of the Republican and Democratic
| phftIcDs j l6 party ploblOI Hlo NNNipAN
little difference. and the opportunity
for an independent to make a cam
paign on the accumulated defects of
both old parties Is not denied. MIR,
Hoover's friends base their high hopes
on the fact that he knows the subject
Of food and the cost OF living from A
to u" and that with women voting
in 1890, the judgment of the house
wife will be a factor Of vital impor-
lance.
But the campaign. so far as any Of
the sharps can forecast at present, VIII
not merely involve a program for the
reduction OF the cost Of living hut a
knowledge on the part Of the candidate
Of the tremendous economic problems
with which the country Is confronted
today and will be wrestling with In the
next few years. Just now some OF the
politicians think radicalism and the
stamping out OF Bolsheviki tendencies
will furnish the issue. But both the
Democratic administration and the Re-
publican congress are as one on n a
score.
II one were asked to assess the opin-
ion that comes this way from all parts
Of the country, there would be little
doubt that the dissatisfaction OF the
country with the wasted time in con-
gress and the failure Of the Repuot-
cans to deal ~constructively with some
OF the big questions that have de-
manded settlement-such as a more
equitable system Of taxation and an
equitable adjustment of the railroad
problem-would be found to be equalied
only by a parallel disappointment at
the lack Of efficiency in the executive
departments OF the government ruled
Sy the Democrats.
For wears the Republicans tainted the
Democrats with the cry that the iat-
ter were inefficient but the Repuon-
- A IL, tho onEGinn nf con-
gress that Is to come to an end TINS
month have used up many months ano
nroduced no constructive program OF
LEGISLATION. The house has had quar-
rels among the leaders and has peer
, waiting on the senate where direct o.
} indirect efforts to XIII the peace tredt9
have occupied the Republican maJorit!
until there Is today a good chance Una
, All the work of the session may result
! in a failure to- get the status OF gu
} foreign relations defined at al.
! Nevertheless, in the face OF the OBJ
vious failures by both the Repupnean
and Democrats who have been piaylh'
%nolitics most OF the time in disregard
!. ~ the country's demand for ethcienc!
and the getting done OF things tina
/ the neople expected to be done In thes
I critical DAYS of reconstruction, boom
are being launched with regularity
Many are the candidates lot tne Die
L hnnTV lnAIuH hlu - ~
cegtain men may be said to be in tn
taad at This moment--which, OF course
NAV he changed altogether by conVen
\ tion time. Attorney-General A., Mitche
palmer and w. G.. McAdoo, former sec
/, retary OF the treasury and direcloI
I general Of railroads, are mp ah W. n uur
!, nation with the gossip faVoring IN
attorney-general just now because {
n The f%orceful and uncompromislng mar
ner in which he has handled the co
strike situation. x,.4
d For the Republican nomlnatlon MAJ
Cen Leonard Wood and Govern,
70 Frank Lowden Of Illinois appear to
riding on the top Of the waves. Sci
ator Hiram Johnson is carefully Watcl
~ lnr opportunities for an independel
a Ticket. too. and he Is said to be OF u
ID belief that the West would support !
independent next time. HeI rara no ,
A. To denounce than would a Repubici
or or Democrat, for he would be able
exnose the flaws in each of the ~
a. narties and argue that there is We
8; little difference in principle petwe'
he them and only a great slHilarius
d. purpose in both, namely, a desire
NJ the part OF ms 10 s'ay ~ ~ 49,
de LAST and by no means least, is I
ID, ouIet discussion OF what labor plans
nd do In the next campaign, uhques'i9
ably labor leaders are considering !
formation OF a political party sinrtian
the Blush p%e a"II and Democra
e oart,es ~" may produce conservative .pls
z soYns while a labor party might :
e r nnuss fairly radical program and u
an Independent ticket might insrod \
ne a middle ground Of hberassm y
sr- raoognizes facts and not theoIles
nd reGos non,mented upon every a
ire soraign observers who belleNe Aiie
co.'s postwar experience with pony
,as ra s,as Is not going to be essentla
ei n, from the experiences OF I'D, AZ
es- land and France: The tenGene iow Sars
'ne BY signs thus us,,t fSg, IS paT THis me
md n ~ ~" irrational pair that have four;
the Wy 1arv fnmr Years heretofore. ]