The Washington herald., 1920-10-31
Election Historic for Discords;
Effect of Women's Suffrage in
Doubt; Harding Most Favored
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
in its choice of a nominee, but ap-
prehension of the results of so much
independence led Gov. Cox to make
an early pilgrimage to the White
House and proclaim his fealty in
emphatic terms--which the knowl
edge gained during the campaign
impelled him to qualify If not to
repudiate in the last week OF the
campaign.
The Real Campaign Issue.
Starting handicapped by lack of
organization the Democrats were
further hobbIed by the issue that
was thrust upon them. Personally
I think that defense of the league
of nations was the strongest
ground that could have been taken
by either party. But more practical
politicians must think otherwise,
for neither party has been unquali-
fed in its defense, and as a result
the outcome of the election will not
be fairly indicative OF public senti-
ment on this issue. So in the early
weeks of his campaign Gov. Cox.
unwilling to center on the league
issue, and confronted by the obvious
determination OF the Republicans to
force the fighting on the record of
the Wilson administration. sloshed
around in the effort to find some
more tenable fighting ground.
1t was in this effort that he cheap
ened himself and robbed his cam
paign Of dignity by his unfounded
charges Of colossal "slush funds"
for the purchase OF the election by
the Republicans. 1t is worth not
ing that no sign of vitality appeared
in the Democratic campaign until
this and settled down to serious
advocacy of the league. But in that
advocacy he has come at last to ac-
cept the moderate ground of Sena-
tor Harding, and to declare that it
is not a matter of forcing the
league covenant as it is written. but
rather a taking OF common counsel.
and the amendment of the covenant
to meet American convictions. The
difference between the positions Of
the two rival nominees on this issue
has come to be too slight to furnish
a basis for the determination OF the
election.
Attitude Toward Wilson.
Accordingly the contest will in
fallibly turn on the general attitude
of the electorate toward the Wilson
administration. And it would be
idle for anyone who has had the
advantage of wide discussion OF
public affairs with people of all
classes and in all sections of the
country to question that the popular
verdict is against what is coming
to be called "Wilsonism" 1t may
be an unjust verdict. This is not
the place to argue that. But this
is what is in the minds OF the peo-
pie and the formal verdict will be
rendered next Tuesday. That this
sentiment should exist is one of the
marvels of politics-or in high-brow
phrase OF popular psychology.
The President has had such an op-
portunity to build up personal fol-
lowing as has been possessed by
none OF his predecessors. 1t is
scarcely three years since that type
Of thinkers that are always fore
seeing the rise of imperialism in the
United States were seriously dis
cussing whether the nation would
ever dethrone Wilson. Now-with
all difference to his high character
and purpose-it is only too apparent
that his party is to be turned out
OF power because OF dissatisfaction
with him.
Claims of Professional Prophets.
Political prophesying is precari-
Gus at best and 1t would be foolish
to offer the opinion that the Dem
ocrats are to be retired next week
as more than a personal view based
on observation of what is at best a
very limited portion of the cleo
torate. Accordingly I desire to
qualify it with a fair presentation
of the claims OF the official cam
paigners of both parties, with COM
ments and deductions that the
reader may accept or reject accord
ing to his own judgment.
In his eleventh-hour statement
given out Friday-there may be a
twelfth-hour one today-Democratic
Chairman White said:
Gov. Cox and Mr.. Roosevelt will
carry the border States of Mary
land. West Virginia, Kentucky, Mis-
souri, and Oklahoma. in addition to
the Southern States. They will
carry Ohio and Indiana
and We feel certain that we will
carry New Jersey, Connecticut and
New Hampshire We be-
lieve that We will carry Nebraska,
California and North Dakota"
In addition Chairman White ex-
pressed a lively hope, as bsseems d
party chairman, of carrying. in ad-
diiion, other States too numerous to
mention.
Analysis of Claim.
If, however, We consider the cleo
toral vote OF the States Of which he
proclaims himself certain we find
that he is claiming 2S3 votes in the
electoral college or II more than
are necessary to elect. The loss of
Ohio, If he be allowed all the other
votes he claims, would defeat his
candidate. or the toss of New Jersey.
Connecticut and New Hampshire, or
the loss of Missouri and Maryland,
or Missouri and West Virginia, or
the loss of California and either
Nebraska or North Dakota. In. view
of the extreme probability of Demo-
cratic defeat in one or more of these
combinations of States it cannot be
said that Chairman White is happy
or reassuring as prognosticator
1t must be remembered, however,
that he does not despair of carry
ing New York. Massachusetts, and
other States which to the multitude
seem assuredly Republican.
y a 1f-r,, lIox l.