The Washington times., 1921-09-20

him to win.
The Republicans have already such
heavy majorities In both houses that
they are unwieldy. They would not
be SO obviously worried at the pos
sibility Of having q Democrat come
up from New Mexico and Join his
lonely participants In the faith. here
In Washington. as part OF Uncle
Sans opposition. were II not for a
nervousness about next summer.
Bursum . Standpatter.
Having another Democrat in the
Senate would not be In itself 80 bad
as giving the impression to the read.
ers Of the nation that the first half
year Of Republican Administration has
not been one grand sweet dream. II
Is that impression that the majority
party Is particularly eager to avoid
on Tuesday.
The obediently stand-pat record of
Senator Bursum emphasizes the need
Of vindication. II he had been In any
sense an individual. with an individ.
ual record, he could to some extent
take the respon sibility for his own
victory or defeat. But he has done
nothing whatever except obey orders
Of the Senate oligarchy.
Therefore, II he should happen to
be beaten two days hence the com.
ment will be taken not as bearing on
this docile war horse. but as tending,
as far as II goes. to show a begin.
ming toward subsiding in the great
wave that arose 30 high and broke
SO hard on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday of last November.
The first really serious test Of the
public state OF mind win come In
November Of next year, and In the
summer campaign preceding t., ubt
these little preliminary scrimmages
are important as preparing the gen
eral psychology In advance for next.
years Congressional elections.
A Test Of Judment.
Every Republican who knows his
way around has his eye somewhat
nervously on the campaign in which
we shall be embroiled a year from
now.
Take the case Of the Attorney Gen.
eral, for example, whose plans have
been the subject of much rumor in
the newspapers of late. Little stories
about his intentions start up like
trial balloons, and each one serves as
the basis for q denial and an explana.
alton that they express only the dis
pleasure Of the officeseekers, who are
represented as receiving from the At.
torney General never more than q
stony stare.
As a matter Of fact, the Attorney
General would much like to be elect
ed next fall Senator from Ohio. He
IL too attentive to political phe.
nomena, however, and too skillful in
reading them. to imagine that he can
come anywhere near telling today
whether he would have a chance u
year from now.
If he should decide to run, his case
would be an outstanding test of the
public's Judgment on the first year
an da half OF the present Administers
ton. Ohio Is in itself a very repre-
sentative State, as we'll as the Presi-
dentt's own State, and Mr.. Daugherty
is In truth the one man in the country
who can clai mthat in any real sense
he made Mr.. Harding President.
Political Swing Seen.
There is a preliminary difficulty for
Mr.. Daugherty In the matter of get
ting the nomination away from the
present incumbent, but that Is not
what he is thinking about mostly.
What he Is thinking about mostly. as
he arranges his own future, is whether
Ohio will stand by the Administration
next year or 60 sweepingly Demo.
cratic.
II 1t looks like q big Democratic
swing next year, Daugherty will re.
main in his present office, get himself
put into another appointive office or
return to the practice Of law. II II
looks Republican. he is likely to try to
enter the Senate.
To return to today's little test,
however, the most interesting detail
Of Senator Bursum's short record 10
his vote to seat Newberry.
Newberry's case. on Its legal aspect,
was so confused that nobody need try
to understand the divided Supreme
Court decision. On Its political and
moral side II is simple enough. No
voter In New Mexico ought to have
any trouble Tuesday In deciding. 1t
should be easy enough for him to de.
eide whether the excessive and illegal
Use of money In elections should be