Evening star., 1919-03-09


Hopes for G. o. P. Stumble.
Champ Clark said the other day:
Unless the republicans stub their toe,
I reckon it is going to be right hard
job for is to roll them out" He real
ICES he has his work cut out for him,
but he is banking strong on being
assisted by the republicans stuobing
their toe.
One splinter in the heel which lie
thinks the republicans may pick up,
TO carry out the barefoot simile, is
split over the tariff question. lie
looks for the progTessives and stand
patters to gore each other to death
over the tariff. It will be devoivent
upon the next Congress. though pos
sibly not at the extra session, TO put
UP the tariff walls against a. threaten
ed food of foreign goods after the
war is over.
The ways and means committee Will
be organized on a protective tariff
basis ard Champ Clark is counting
upon a howl of protest to come from
the middle west republicans as to the
stiffness of the rates.
Republican leaders say he'd better
not count his chickens before II y
are hatched, in this respect, for they
are aware of this danger, and every
effort is to be made to compromise
between the high and moderate pro-
tectioRists.
Uneasy Eye on Progressives.
There is considerable uneasiness
among republican politicians over the
suggested convocation of progressives
at Chicago to discuss presidential can
didates to be supported for the nomi-
nation by the progressive element
Such a meeting is declared to be load
ed with dynamite. and the liveliest
apprehension exists as 10 the possib's
careless handling of political high ex-
plosives in this particular instance.
The old-line republicans are solici- |
tous whether the progressives propose |
at that meeting to decide upon the |
names of men they will support for
the republican nomination, with the |
justihable inference that il a con-
vention of republicans Of all factions I
should select some one not on their
list. they would then oppose that can
didstes as the polls.
IN other words, they say, Is the
Chicago meeting to put the pro-
gressIves in the attitude of declaring
that IL the party does not indorse
a man they pick out in advance of
the convention they wont play? Or
do they propose TO decide upon a
man to be presented to the conven--
tion as their choice, but If he is not
accepted they will nevertheless. play
the hand outr
Senator Borah, who is classed as q
leading progressive, will not attend
the Chicago meeting. and deprecates
it's being held at this time. Some
of the House progressives are, in
clined to view it askance and doubt
its wisdom, while. as stated, the reg
uIars are very much concerned over
the potentialities for trouble 1t may
contain
League as Possible Asset.
IN SCnSiSSS are Won-st
dering how the league of nations
plan can be made a party issue or
assumed as an asset by any presiden-
tial candidate, in view Of the fact
that republicans and democrats of
prominence are aligning upon both
sides of the question. They concede
that il it turn out successfully the
President may say, 81 saw it FIRST"
and claim IT as his personal asset, il
he decides to run again or hand it
over to his party. II the country
should reject it. however. there
would, Of course. be no scramble any
where or by anybody to claim spon-
sorship.
William G. McAdoo will be back
from the west early next month, and,
ii is said in democratic circles, will
announce his candidacy for the dem
ocratic presidential nomination. That
Is expected to be followed irume-
diateiy by an announcement from