Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-18
DEMOCRATS>LEAD
IN THE BATTLE TO
CONTROL CONGRESS
Continued From First paEe1

I----NSoIliuucu FROM flrSt HaEc.D
cemplish the defeat of the DemocratIc
party.
All of the signs. straws and other
agencies Of popular expression re-
ported by the leaders Of both parties
point to Mr.. iIarding's election two
weeks before the contest. The Re-
publicans boldly assert II anl .he
| Democrats are hoping for s,rle re-
versal in present conditions that Will
elect Cox.
| Socialist Units Aid RepubIicans.
The Republicans are aided by In
| dependent groups. such rs the Nom
partisan League and even 10 Some eS-
tent By the mildrr Socialist units
The Influence that dictates ;his tenn
porary policy is purely one of in
dividual group cSpediency and Is not
| inspired by any genuine belief in Re-
| publican doctrines. The truth OF the
matter Is that the strategy OF the
Republicans In concentrating the
grievances Of many district groups
against the Democratic party has
been apparently. up to the present
time. successful. Democratic argu-
ments have fallen on unwilling and
prcjudiced ears: those OF the Rcpub-
cans accepted without analysis or
complete understanding. Systematic
/ organization. adequate n amelia
means and lot of good luck rather
than the best case have all contrib
uted to Republican advantage
| The sole disturbing factor in the
Republican camp is the league of ma
tions. Here the Democrats are con-
coded by the Republicans TO have the
best of the argument. The trouble IS
that there appears to be almost az
many Democrats opposed to 4, as
there are Republicans In its favor.
The exact division of sentiment Will
only be determined in the final bal
loting. Evidence that the Republi-
cans appreciate the amount of
dynamite in the issue Is easily OBJ
tainable. The managers Of tho party
have done their best to prevent from
engaging the attention of the voters.
Hold Back League Literature.
Informed today by Republican
| who is in position to speak with
authority that several million copies
| OF the league covenant were ordered
! printed subject to CALL" but that
none were actually distributed, Gov
l
managers with the suppression of &.
When either 100000 or 1000. ooe
| copies were finally sent to State
managers the document was edited"
to subordinate the terms OF text and
the Lodge reservations were set
forth in conspicuous black type.
Copies Of this edited" covenant have
not been generally distributed. bu;
70.
publican theory that the less said
about the league the better it will
be for the Harding Coolidge ticket.
Another feature of the Republican
plan in dealing with the league has
been 10 instruct party workers TO di-
vert the minds of women voters from
it by calling their attention to the
failure Of the Wilson administration
to improve living conditions" An
other has been ito suggest" to Re-
publican editors that they refrain from
commenting on the daily shifting OF
Mr.. Harding's position on the issue.
Democratic leaders. while admit
ting the advantage enjoyed by the
opposition. assert that widespread
interest in the league issue recently
evidenced by voters in the Western
a
of them venture the prediction that
the result of this widespread inter-
est" will surprise tho Republicans"
Concentrate on "DoubtfuI" States.
The managers of both parties are
preparing to concentrate on the
doubtful States in the remaining
two weeks of the campaign. par
ticularly those in the Middle West
hn ~
which are the doubtful" States, but
the activities OF the party managers
in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky. West
Virginia. Maryland, California, Colo
RADIO, Utah and Iadho make il quite
apparent that both sides arc uncer-
tain as to the final alignment of
them.
The ninety-five electoral votes in
these States are vitality necessary to
the Democrats. Indeed. they mus,
do even better by taking some OF
the States which the Republicans in
dex as safe for their ticket. The Re
publicans are confident they win car
ry every State in the Atlantic Coast
group north of Virginia.
Figure Margin for Harding.
Added to the IA electoral votes OF
| tnOSe Eastern States, winch are
claimed safely Republican" the Re-
publican chances now appear reason
ably good for winning the 1875 cleo
toral votes OF Michigan. Wisconsin.
| Minnesota, Illinois the two Dakota3.
Wyoming, Washington. Oregon. Iowa.
Kansas and Nebraska. The two
groups Of safe Republican States"
would give the Harding ticket sew
enty votes or four more than re-
CURED to win.
The Democratic managers do not
concedo Wisconsin. Oregon and South
Dako but assert they have a
chance to win them for Cox, but
they do admit that they must carry
all of the doubtful States, plus the
three named, which would give them
the decision.
The Republican managers are
frankly depending on tho negro vote
to- win the doubtful" border States.
and the Democratic managers agree
that IL Harding carries any Of them
it will be duo to support from these
citizens. They assert, however, that
| the delivery OF the negro vote to