The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-07-10
SEES HOPES FOR
DEMOCRATS IN 1920
SITUATION HAS REVERSED DUR.
ING WILSON'S ABSENCE
Confusion in Republican Ranks May
Lead to Party Splits-Plans Being
Made for Senate Reorganization If
Split Comes.

eNEMWNWNNnN VI WIG AANAAEAAAN OSNNAAt~N
cial Appeal, says in special to his
paper under date Of July s;
When President Wilson left Wash
ington in March last, to return to
France after witnessing the death OF
the 65th Congress, the Democrats of
the House and Senate were somewhat
gIum and gloomy as they faced an
extraordinary session of the 66th Con-
gress. the converting Of which meant
their surrender Of party control in
both houses.
On the other hand, the Republicans
were joyously jubilant and awaited
the presidents call for the extra
ordinary session in a mood Of cheer
full impotence. Legislative respon-
sibility had been shifted to their
shoulders and eagerly did they look
forward to the coming of the day
when the Republican party was again
to assume leadership in the Congress.
When President Wilson returns to
Washington on Tuesday next, he will
find markedly changed atmosphere
on Capitol Hill. He will be greeted
by pleasantly disposed and optimist-
icallv inclined Democrats and by Re-
publicans more or less churlish and
cynical and distrustful Of the course
Of events since their party organized
the committees Of the two houses
and the G. o. P. Jared forth in quest
of legislative triumphs which even
in SO short a time were to make the
Democrats ashamed of their record
Of eight years.
Internal strife has broken out
among the Republicans in Congress
and some of their most cherished
plans for legislative performances
that were to appeal to the popular
imagination have already gone glim-
mering.
First and foremost the Republicans
were to give the country an imDres-
sive lesson in economy in contradic-
ton to the treasury depicting extrav-
agances Of their Democratic prede-
cessors, long in full legislative re-
sDonsibility.
What happened? On the eve Of the
congressional recess, now nearly over,
Floor Leader Mondell stingingly re-
buked the Republican party for being
divided on the burning" question of
war appropriations. Chairman Kahn,
Of the military affairs committee, was
openly reproved with blistering
harshness for yielding to those Re-
publican conferees Of the Senate who
had little or no regard for the party's
promise of economy in the prepara-
ton Of appropriation bills.
Over in the Senate the Republican
"old guard" or so-called reactionaries
were taken severely to task by SEN
ator Kenyon, Of Iowa, who charged
that the party had no intention of
carrying out the pledges to reduce
governmental expenses.
The Iowa senator's displeasure was
incurred by the conferees on the sun
dry civil bill, which struck out the
House provision of $4,000 appropri-
alton to pay the expense Of an inves-
tigation into the budget system with
view to the adoption Of this reform
system by Congress.
Besides these concrete incidents of
Republican discord others of equal
significance and portent are constant
~ cropping out in debate, showing as
they do the extent and seriousness of
the party's failure to go ahead with
program Of legislation in organ
lied harmony and with unity Of pur-
pose.
Indecision, inharmony and incoher
ency had rendered the recently over
thrown Democratic majorities in the
House and Senate impotent for real
forward and constructive legislation,
and the Republicans through harmony
and party cohesion were to thrill the
country at the very start of the new
Congress with their capacity to do
what the Democrats had signally
failed to achieve. The dilemma Of the
Republicans in the House is regarded
liE G. O. P. leaders as singularly sim
ister and regrettable because of the
bearing it will have inevitably on the
approaching presidential campaigN.
Already their "solid front" shibboleth
has been shattered by the manning of |
the House machinery with Massachu- |
sets, New York and Pennsylvania |
reactionists.
If it be possible, the slim Republic
can majority in the Senate is in worse
plight than the Republicans in the
House. Not only have the Progress
Siven Republicans, like Kenyon, served
4 warning on the old line Republican
leaders Of what may be expected if
any reactionary legislation is at
tempted, but .Borah, rabid antagonist
Of the peace treaty, and Brandigee,
regarded as a leader among the reae-
tionists, have said openly that they
Quit the, Republican party if the Sem
ate votes to ratify the peace pact
and the league of nations.
These rebellious statements are
fraught with tremendous import to-
the Republicans Of the Senate. The
Senate is going to ratify the peace
covenant. and If Senators Borah and
Rrandigee make good their threats
and quit their party the Democrats
win proceed without delay to the
Of that body
This would accentuate the effect as !
well as the scope Of President Wil-i'
sons victory IN the ratification Of
the peace treaty besides serving to
eonf0und the confusion Of the Repub-
|ican ma ioxity Is the House. Natural-