Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-29
BETTER TEAM PLAY is
NEEDED IN WASHINGTON
Election Of a Republican Congress
to Work With Harding

to Work With Harding
A : THE campaign draws to a close the
"a Democrats are concentrating attention
on the Senate Governor Cox has been
making desperate efforts this week TO con.
ciliate those who have disagreed with him
in the hope of saving himself. but he knows
too much about politics to be deceived about
the prospects. And he also knows too much
about political methods to stop fighting
until the voters begin to go to the polls.
Something may happen to turn the tide; he
does not know what.
But both the Wilson and the anti Wilson
factions of his party are working unitcdly
to win majority in the Senate. The anti
Wilson faction. the faction which nominated
Governor Cox, is seeking in this way to get
control Of the party. Murphy. Nugent.
brennan and Taggart are seeking to get
hold Of the political machine so that they
can use it for their purposes in 1924. They
havS had hard shedding for the last seven
years and half for President Wilson has
refused to have any dealings with them.
They do not like his kind Of politics. They
have no us" for a man who will not deal
with their state political machines and will
do his best to strengthen the leaders opposed
to those machines.
they put over Cox in San Francisco. after
letting the President and his friends have
the empty honor of writing the platform.
With Mr.. Wilson out of office and an
invalid they are anticipating break up Of
the Wilson faction The Wilson influence
may survive for n short time after March ].
but when it cannot be buttressed by patron
age the practical men in the party will dis
regard it. The anti Wilson leaders have
some state patronage and they control state
machines. They are confident that they can
break the hold Of the friends of Mr.. Wilson
on the few state organizations now in their
hands. The prospect is not encouraging to
the Democrats with ideals
Along with this fight for the control Of the
party by the anti Wilson faction there is n
fight for strengthening the pro league Wilson
forces in the Senate to prevent the ratifCa-
tion of the peace treaty and the lcagu" COW
enant with reservations which take the
heart out of it.
This fight. which is really n fight for the
control of the Senate by the Democrats. is
of greater Importance just now than the
fight within the Democratic party itself. II
successful it will prolong the delay over
ratification and make it impossible for Il
House Of Representatives to operate with
the Senate without many compromises.
Senator Harding said in Akron yesterday
that he would rather not BE- President unless
he was to have "a Republican Congress to
translate Republican promises into logisla
tive pnactments." Mr.. Cox could properly
say the same thing about a Democratic Con
gress. Under our system Of separation of
the legislative and executive branches of the
government n deadlock arises when one party
controls Congress and another controls the
President The deadlock over the peace
treaty shows how it works.
As it is probable that Senator Harding
will be elected to the presidency next Tues
day. il Is important that the Republican
majority in the Senate be increased. The
House is safely Republican 50 far as can be
judged in advance The present majority
is thirty nine. All the signs point to an
increase in that majority. The enthusiasts
are saying that it will be- at least seventy
FIVE.
The Senate at present contains forty nine
Republicans and forty seven Democrats.
Thirty three senator's are to be elected on
Tuesday, to fill the places now occupied by
sixteen Republicans and seventeen Demo
Gratis. The Republicans admit that eight
Democrats will be elected, and they are con
hdent that Republicans will be chosen to
displacc five of the others. with a fighting
chance TO displaco the other four But a
change of five from the Democratic to the
Republican side would give the Republicans
a good working majority. 1t is in Califor-
MIA, Colorado, Kentucky. Maryland and
South Dakota that the election of Rrpubi-
cans TO diSplaCo Democrats is expected
Ntl,tl.ar tbp hTmnprotS will I,,i,
senators from Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and
Oregon Is uncertain.
The displacement of five Democrats by
five Republicans, however, will be Of little
avail if five Republicans are Displaced by
five Democrats The states in which the
election Of n Republican senator is in some
doubt are Iowa, New Hampshire, Illinois,
Ohio, Connecticut, New York. Utah. Mis-.
souri, and Indiana In some the doubt is
greater than in Others Missouri. for px
ample, i expected 70 give its electoral vote
to Harding, and the expert Missouri ob
servers have been saying that the state has
become Republican and will remain 50 for u
number Of years. In Utah the potent influ p
cnrrs are likely to throw their influence ia
III" Republican candidate. Ohio is expected
! to g. Republican with a majority large
enough to carry the whole ticket. And 50 on
down the line.
But the situation is 50 complicated in a
number Of states that definite prediction i,
unsafe, It is far from certain that the Re.
| publican Scnat majority will be increased
! This result will not be attained unless the
| Republican voters in the various states for
! get their differences and poll their united
strength for the candidate Of their party
! As the time for voting approaches the
! gravity Of tn" issues at stake is likely tc
impress itself upon the electorate, and thosc
! Republicans who have been in doubt about
| supporting III" party nominee will dismis,
their doubts and do their share TOWARD
! putting the Republicans in absolute contro
Of tho national government.