South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-18
WHAT WILL BE
1920 CAMPAIGN
PARTY ISSUES?
Question Pertinent Because
People From Coast to Coast
Are Asking It.
BY HORACE II. HERR.


Hnetial 70 The NeWE-lIueEe
WASHINGTON. AL.fl lis the
presidential campaign OF 1920 to be
another contest between Twidledee
and Twidiedum? The question is
pertinent only because q people Of
the country are asking it. Not only
Is this the important question here
in Washington. but those Who travel
west and return assert IL is the ques-
tion the country over. Are we to
have a campaign on t~echnicalities or
on real, fundamental issues?
The last presidential campaign.
more than any other IN the coun-
try's history, was fought on "A funda-
mental issue. The controversy ever
the AdamsOn law was, in the last
analysis. a controversy over eco
nomic fundamentals and il was be-
cause the democratic party was on
the right side OF that issue. the pop
ular side Of ii, thai made victory
possible.
Neither Announces Issues.
Neither OF the major political
parties has made q positive asser-
tion on issues for 1929. To be sure
the democrats are saying. semi
officially at least. they are quite
willing to go to the people on the
league Of nations issue. but the re-
publicans are too wise and cunning
20 jeopardize the party's future By
outstanding in a general election
30 momentous a question when
everywhere 1t is apparent that the
predominant sentiment is favorable
10 Pres't wilson's efforts in this
deld. Republican leaders are hunt
ing q graceful way to get in line On
the league Of nations. The chang
ing of n comma or a semicolon viii
he enough 10 justify opponents Of
the league in "A change of front
when they have TO 20 on record with
their vote.
since ongress adjourned and re-
publicans-and some democrats, too
have had an opportunity 10 get in
touch with home folk" the pros
poets OF the league Of nations being
an issue in 1920 are very slim. The
Lodges. PeurOses. Reeds ct al. have
heard their masters vOices-fOr the
people r master in America when
ever they are determined enough to
assert their power. Any change.
however ms. ticant and unimpOr-
tant. is chaAEz enough to permit the
opposition TO the president 10 line
az for the league OF nations now
that there is no uncertainty as TO
the popular conviction. II is. there
fore, uncomfortable that the repub-
lican leadership will permit the
league to be an issue in 1920.
What Issue Remains?
II this, the greatest question be-
fore the world today, is eliminated,
what remains in the political arena?
A. Vet there are 40 positive, affirm
ative development in either party.
There are. however, indications on
which one may build reasonable
speculatiOns.
There is the widest concern in 70
publican ranks to get the railroads
back TO private ownership and to
turn the trick during a democratic
administration. The determination
in his regard makes very obvious
two facts.
First republican leadership is
committed TO private ownership or
whatever terms agreeable 70 the
private owners
Second: republican leadership,
while committed TO private owner
ship. is anxious 20 have that owner
ship reestablished while there Is 4
democratic president and cabinet.
Whye II republican leaders be-
lieve this course TO be popular,
would they be anxious for early &C
ton knowing that the popular
commentator Tor 1t would be a2-
%propriated By a democratic admin
istratiou?
Doubt Popularity Of Move.
Isn't the logical conclusion that
the republican leadership very
much doubts the popularity of the
move TO return the railroads TO the
private owners without government
control? Isn't there "a very clear
suggestion that republican leaders
determined 20 serve The private in
terests which furnish the campaign
funds. at the same time very much
prefer that the responsibility for
this action should rest ON the demo
cratic national administration?
All hat may be said of the rail-
road question is equally applicable
TO the merchant marine question
Republicans want the United states
10 sell &c international business in
~terests. and at their own figures and
terms. the ships we have built dur
ing the war. Republicans want this
done before the next election Sc
fbat II criticism DEVELOPS 6ual re-