The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-08
Slirewd Plan For
/. .,...s Party in South
President Harding and Secretary
Hoover Coeperate-Have
|. Practical Working Idea
IF They Can Enforce 1t

III INey Can EEI0fce IL
Washington. June 5.-Building up
marty is a slow process anywhere, and
particularly so in territory in which
the conditions have been adverse for
two generations. How long it will
take the Republican organization to
get On even terms with the Democrats
Sa. the south Il the wisest possible
ssfoiicy of rebuilding is adopted and
scoassstent3y followed is a question. 1t
FsouN take a good deal longer even
under that ideal assumption than the
average observer outside Of the south
snnagines.
However, it is just as well to make
note Of the fact that President Hard
ing,s administration is proceeding, at
the start at any rate, along rational.
swen considered and systematic lines
towards such a reorganization of
Southern Republcanism. The plan is
the best laid. and thus far the most
sagaciousiy administered, that has yet
characterized Republican national
regime.
President Harding is working for
the establishment of an EZRA Of good
feeling similar to that which came
in the days OF Monroe, and he ap-
pacenfIy possesses in a high degree
ethe personal qualifications requisite
2or. this executive achievement. With
Secretary Hughes as his wheel-horse
In diplomatic matters, aided to very
important degree by Secretary Hoo
Fer's actual knowledge Of present-day
foreign conditions, the president is en-
eouraging Secretary Hoover to win the
con6dence and appreciation of the
! business community fol- the admins
tration, while is political agents in
the various sections seek to strength
en- the Republican fences wherever
they are weak or defective.
While the plan for reconstruction of
Southern ,RepubAcan organizations
where they have been most wofully
lacking is proceeding under the gen
eral adyieeEos Representative c. Bas-
com SieInps OF sVirginia, who is special
counselor Feffhe Harding administra-
ton Rs to party matters below Mason
and D;xanss Line, the president and
Secretary Hoover rare making it plain
TO the AGRICULTURAL and commercial
community at large that this admin
istration hopes ito loosen up" credits
TO considerable extent through the
medium os the federal reserve sys-
tenn.
No matter what may be the facts
as TO whether or not the Wilson ad-
Ihtnistration oyerdid the process OF
.faghtening up credits, the farming and
commercial communities seem to feel
as 8 whole that this was the case. If
sfhe Harding administration can effect
as liberalization of credits through the
operation OF the federal reserve sys-
tenn without doing any harm to the
stability OF the financial foundation,
there is no question that the Repub.:-
cans will have put one over on the
Democrats. This would be true in
1pite OF the fact that the Democrats
cpuid themselves. if now in control Of
HE government, loosen credits in a
way that might have been dangerous
Ut other times. The federal reserve
5 margin Of gold is now Tar above
what it was year ago.
j. But explanations aside, the present
administration is adopting shrewd
measures to make headway in the
south by capitalizing the dissatisfac-
stion which existed over the agricul-
strraI credit situation in the last Pc
efiod Of the Wilson regime.
An that may be gained by the
Harding administration ii. helping
and pleasing the business commun-
.,fy (inciuding in that term the farm
ers and the merchants and all who
sagase IN trade or productive invest
nien.3 viii so for little, however, in
sfte southern states un:ess the race
ct estaoR .esn ae eliminated as q con-
xFol;ns factor of politics In view Of
Asls presence Of so many fanatics on
.-ta,is question who are in the Repuo-
sNean party in the north and west.
with some representatives in con-
gress and in the national committee.
st is easy to see that Slemp has
harder task than Hoover.
The plan of reorganization in the
Southern G. o. P. which seems to be
finding. favor just now is to select a
Few prominent citizens who are Re
pub1icans or willing to be Republi-
cans under new conditions, and hay
Ing these persons each submit lists
of other Republicans whom they re-
gard as representatives Of their com
munities as to business and general
standing. The Republican national
committeeman Of the state in question
he
lists az whole some unbiased au
,thority, perhaps the chairman of the |
national committee, would select a |
hundred or more Republicans VINO |
should assemble and reorganiZe their !
party in the State and recommend a
slate for federal appointments. This |