Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-10
Nations Issue Squarey Drawn Campaign Takes on New Life
THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Summary Of National Developments, Based on
Reports From The Stars Special Core
spondents and Staff Writer'S.

fngly republican becomes con-
victfon. one faction or the other,
seeking early advantage. may be
tempted to start something"
Registration in number of
states has resulted in surprises
and caused alarms. Tho democrats
of Maryland got bad scare when
the first days registration dis
closed the republicans. ahead in.
the declarations OF afiliation.
something which had never hap
pened before. 1t injected life into
a campaign that had been little
more than a formality. and the re-
suits Of registration on the sec
ond day put the democrats ahead.
but not by anything like q COM
Portable margin. They claim to
be confident that the state will
give it's electoral votes to Cox and
Roosevelt. but their claims do not
have a convincing ring. But one
thing seems certain--there is not
going to be any more apathy in
Maryland. either among democrats
or republicans.
In Indiana the campaign man.
ayers of both parties have been
complaining that the people could
not be persuaded to take any in
terest in politics. Then came the
registration, and with it a jolt
ing surprise. The number of
voters who had their names placed
on the poll lists was a whole lot
larger than any 6ne had believed
it would be. and it now is assured
that Indiana will cast a record
vote. The only explanation Of
fered is that the league Of nations
has suddenly become a live issue.
The spellbinders of both parties.
an orators. are talking it. and
the lines are sharply drawn. The
republicans point to the fact that
the heaviest increases in regis
tration are in republican strong
holds, and profess to be we'll
content. But they cannot con-
ceal that they are a good deal
disconnected by the fact that
Thomas Taggart. democratic can
ate. has elected to make his cam
paign primarily as a champion of
the league Of nations. Every one
in Indiana, republicans included.
has a very healthy respect for
Taggart's political sagacity, and
his opponents cannot help but
wonder what he sees or knows
that is not vouchsafed them to
see or know.
AS a result Of registration in
Kentucky there is jubilation In the
democratic camp. Declarations Of
preference, the democrats claim.
show Kentucky to be safe for Cox.
and whatever doubts and misgiv-
ings existed a few weeks ago ap-
parently have vanished.
In Connecticut Small town cleo
tions were held Monday. and the
results were gratifying to repub-
licans. These small towns nor
mally are republican, but the
margins were so increased this
year that a republican landslide in
November is predicted.
The Stars correspondent at Chey-
enne, Wyo., sends an interesting
analysis of the reaction from Gov.
Cox's western tour, based on
study Of conditions two weeks
after the candidate appeared in
that state. He reaches the conclu-
sion that Cox won the votes of
good many women. but few men.
on the league of nations issue; that
on other issues he is neither
stronger nor weaker because of
his visit, and that Wyoming will
give 10000 to 10000 plurality for
Harding.
About the most interesting report
from the far west comes from
Washington. The Tacoma CORE
spondent wires that during the
week there has been a ve.y NJ.
ticeable breaking away from the
farmer-labor party. the voters re-
turning to either their republican
or democratic Affiliations. 1t is the
same old story of the reluctance of
the average American voter 20
throw his vote away On third
party at time when great ma
tional questions are up for settle
ment.
Copyright. 1920. by The Washington STAR