Evening star., 1920-11-22
DEMOCRATS Wary
OF C. 0. P..0FFERS.
View Bipartisan Appoint
ments as Attempt to Drive
Wedge in Party.
BY n. O. MESSENGER.


During fortnight increasing talk
has been heard in political and official
circles on the suggestion that the
tremendous vote the republican ma
tional and state tickets received from
democrats should be acknowledged in
notable bipartisan appointments to
office. The claim is being advanced
that democrats have an equity in the
administration Of xeveFHment through
their support Of republican Presf-
dent. sen.tors and -rsprsssntz4ssss I'M
9e 'eeo ens' ons questions tfsi dmsssSefxss III ii
vast numbers Voluntarily left their
party and voted with the republican
party. In no other way could the
amazingly large republican pluraHties
have been rolled up. But. 1t Is heard
suggested, there may be question
whether these democrats desire to
remain permanently with the fepub-
lican party. or whether they were in
teut only upon revolutionizing their
own party, as then constituted, with
a view to the building up of another
democratic party in the future.
See Chance to Drive "Wedge."
Some shrewd republicans see in
the proposition to hold these recruits
a. wedge deep into the democratic
party, and possibly nakingit a minor
ity political entity almost negligible
in value. Democrats are alive to this
possibility and may be expected to
resist the bipartisan plan for that
very reason.
Come 1924, and IL the lines Of No
vember 2. 1920. should hold. there
would be no need Of the democrats
holding q national convention save to
confer an empty honor upon some
favorite son Of Dixie. for they, would
dent in It, at that-to offer him.
Such condition. however, Is no
part of the present and prospective
plans of northern democrats Of promi-
nence. They say that all the demo-
Gratis have neither died nor emigrat-
ed to foreign parts. but will be very
much in evidence riding hard on the
republican majority as it mills around
with it's problems like bunch of
bewildered cattle.
"Beware.- Motto.
Beware Of the Greeks bearing
cratic leaders will apply to republi-
can offers to take democrats into
high Office, it is said. They win be
rather disposed to remain alert and
keep their powder dry. Certain So.
called "old-fashioned democrats" Of
are expected to be especially tenacious
Of this view and wary Of republican
advances.
representation OF the minority party
in Hesitation. In the Senate and
membership on committees of MEM
bers Of the two parties. The result
will be exertion Of democratic in
fiuence upon legislation in direct ratio
to the industry. aggressiveness and
representatives.
IL they want to work they can make
their presence felt. If they allow
things to go by. default, it is pointed
out, the responsibility is their own.
If they 'Iie down on the job" in open
House and Senate. in the natural
course of human nature and events.
they may expect the majority to run
over them.
Old Members i'm Power.
It used to be said In terms Of dis
management in former times that the
democratic party functioned to best
advantage as a minority party. That
vaa when the republicans were wont
~ claim that all the ability was
vested in the republican party. and
that the democrats were best fitted to
be the brake on the wagon. the bit in
the mouths Of the team. And how hop
Ming mad it used to make the demo-
Gratis. this arrogation of superiority.
The House Of Representatives in the
new Congress-. to meet after March 4.
is TO be organized along the lines as
r. now stands and by the same ele-
ments. it is predicted by men at the
canitol who have looked up the sta
tjstics. 1t is said that Of the 500 re-
nublicans in the next House, zoe are
re-elected members OF the present
House. and therefore supposed to be
in sympathy with the present organ
The states east Of the Mississippi
river and north Of the Mason and
Dixon line will have the prenonder-
ance of strength in the new House.
and tho men from this section are
not claesed az favorxble to proposals
to overturn the existing organixa-
tion.
that whale of q majority the re-
publicans have there will be a Ger
tain number OF restless proponents Of
upheaval but the old members count
u: =: Se.ns able % ho!d item iown,.