Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-25
Democratic SplIrt
Is Falling Short

iE"hi hkV ohc
cratic party on the issue Of the league.
The Democrats claim to have rcgaincd a
good many OF the disaffectcd Irish. And
the probability is that they have made
some progress in this direction during
the last few weeks. 1t is one of the
recent gains.
In some states where the Democrats
have a chance to elect United States
senator's or governors and where the
Democratic organization is strong
progress hns undoubtedly been made
which will aid the national ticket. Tag
CART has splendid organization in In
diana He has made a fine campaign
to elect himself senator. and one of the
consequences is that Cox is stronger in
Indiana than he was n month ago.
Illinois Still for Harding
In Illinois the prospects of clecting
Lewis governor has stiffened up the
Democrats. And the Republican con.
fusion and factiOnalism have somewhat
| here thinks that Harding's majority In
Illinois will he 100000 or so less than
! il once looked as if it would be. But,
and this is the important point in all
! this change. Harding's Illinois majority
will still be large. No one estimates il
at less than 100000.
In Ohio n whispered campaign of q
mean. dcfamatory character has per.
meated the whole state. Both local
parties have been equally guilty. but
! the Democrats have been more success
| full This whispering, the raising of the
race issue. the presentation of the
/ League of Nations, may have cut down
! Hardngs possible majority in Ohio.
But every indication is that he will still
| hold an impressive majority.
The Democrats lay stress upon the
Lcaguc of Nations as factor in the
recent change which they profess to see
! in their favor. Perhaps 1t has been.
There is no question that interest in the
! league has greatly increased during the
| last three wPci;s. The Democrats here
tell of Republicans visiting headquarters
seeking literature on the league. But
+ there are no signs an impartial observer
can discern thnt the league has been
elevated into the place of the leading
issue in mems minds. Locally il has be-
come important, but the country over
the desire for change Of administra-
! ton at Washington remains the con-
! trolling sentiment.
Story OF Lost Opportunity
The story Of the League Of Nations
! issue so far as the Democracy is con =
cerned is q story Of lost opportunities.
I To present such an issue required intel
I ligent preparation. thorough organiza =
ton and clear discernment of the issue
from the outset. The Democratic cam
paign had n1nc Of these things; it only
discovered the possibilities of the league
as an issue three weeks ago.
To have made the most of the league
as an issue the Democratic candidate
should have done one of two things. He
should have followed Bryan and seized
the abandoned Republican position in
favor of the Lodge reservations. Or
secondly he should have followed vii.
son paSsionatcly, religiously. Cox had
not the courage or understanding to do
either Of these things. He hovered be
tween Lodge and Wilson and became
that most futile of things political, O
! mild reservati0nist. There has been nc
solemn referendum on the league, more S
the pity.
Well then the Democrats in their
last efforts have done something, but not
enough. They have saved some doubtful
states. perhaps. They have cut down
Harding's possible majority in others
They have stopped the tidal wave Of
which there are signs in the East and
kept it from flowing west of Buffalo.
AS in 1916 the Fast is going to bt
more Republican than the West anC
Middle West, but with this difference
The West and Middle West this time
are going to be Republican.