The Washington herald., 1920-10-04
Notes of a Political Scout

\ scant month remains before the
Presidential election. Is the time
long enough to permit of such ID
drive as will st IN the seemingly
Irresistible drift Of the voters to
the Republican ticket?
That IS the problem with which
the leaders at tho Democratic head
quarters are wrestling. Its inn
portance is impressed upon them
by every scout volunteer or pro-
fessional who comes in after a trip
through the West. I met one such
today Immediately after he had
emerged from headquarters. For
merly a political journalist, he is
now in a business which keeps him
constantly travelling and in touch
with the masses. lie is usually a
Democrat. but this year one of the
mighty army of doubters. This is
tho story he told to the party
chiefs:
Il have just come across from
the Pacific Coast. making stops in
several States on the way AS mat
ters now stand, YOU Democrats have
no reason to hope for a single
Northern State west of the Mis-
sissippi. l believe that even Okla
homa is debatable. 1t isn't a great.
popular condemnation of the league
of nations. | heard but little dis
Cussion of that: and nearly every
such discussion ended with the
agreement that the position of nei-
ther party, nor of either candidate,
IS so clear and explicit as to make
1t possible for the election to turn.
on that issue. Neither is the liquor
issue influencing the mind of the
average man to any great extent.
The vets, who thought their end
saved by CoXs nomination, have
lost enthusiasm for him since his
recent emphatic declarations for
the literal enforcement of the Vol
stead law. AS for other matters
treated in the platforms of the two
parties, they are not even mem
toned in the general discussion
The one thing that is generally dis
Cussed is the wilson administration
and about 80 per cent of the. opin-
ion is that the country wants a
change. I notice that the preva-
lence of this sentiment stung GOV
Cox lately into eXclaiming Wilson
isn't running for the Presidency 4;
Cox Isl" But It will take more
than an occasional protest of this
sort to disabuse the country OF the
theory that a vote for Cox Is a
vote of Endorsement of the Wilson
administration. The general pub
lie sentiment is THAT is going to
defeat the Democratic ticket"
This diagnosis Of the situation is
accepted by nearly every public
man with whom I have talked in
the last week. Many of them are
strongly for Cox, but admit the sit
uation is difficult. Indeed, the Dem
ocratic leaders are going to shape
their strategy during the last weeks
of the campaign upon the theory
that there can be no evasion of re-
sponsibility for the acts Of the ad-
ministration. What they plan to do
Is to accept the one Presidential
policy. back of which they believe
is strong public approval. and seek
to concentrate public attention upon
that. So far as the Democrats are
concerned there will be no more
temporizing with the league of ma
tions. 1t is to be thrust to the front
as the one vital issue of the cam
paign.
The giving out at the White
House last week of the views of the
President on certain features OF the
leapue which are involved in con-
troversy marks the beginning OF
this new policy. 1t will be followed
by further pronouncements along
the same line. unless the Presidents .
health should interfere. of whicn
there is some apprehension. The
announcement :ast week of the or
ganization of number of former
Roosevelt Progressives in support. of
Cox is another step to the same end.
am informed that very impress
siro list of prominent educators,
men of letters and men OF affairs
who hold the league to be the para
mount issue, and Cox its only
champion. is to be given out by the
Democratic national headquarters
in day or two.
GAis drive will be attended by an