New-York tribune., 1922-11-13
With Qualifications

Last 1ussOay eiectlon mas been
loosely interpreted as an orthodox
victory for the Democratic party.
1t was something other than that.
Senator David /. Walsh, of Massa-
chusetts, chairman Of the Demo-
cratic Senatorial Campaign Commit
tee, contributed to better under
standing Of it when he told "The
World on Saturday: Though the
Democratic party is the beneficiary,
il is not precisely Democratic
victory"
The reason of this Is plain. The
Democratic party, as a party, fig
ured only in a shadowy way in the
1922 campaign. The Republican
party figured more distinctly, since
1t had to accept responsibility for
what Congress had done and failed
TO do and to bear the brunt of pop
ular dissatisfaction, whether due TO
party action or not. The Democratic
party disappeared into the twilight
zone In 1920. 1t had not emerged
enough this year to organize fight
on national lines. 1t had no distinct
alternative program, even no con-
structive criticism to offer--no list
Of Dos and Don'ts.
1t is premature to rate the
strength shown by Democratic state
candidates rs the renewed strength
ef the national Democratic organi-
cation. In the trans-Mississippi Sec
tion the Democrats reaped where
the Republican farm bloc had sown,
and reaped along with the more
radical Republicans. Kendrick, Of
Wyoming; Pittman, of Nevada;
Ashurst, of Arizona; Jones, Of New
Mexico; Dill, of Washington, and
King, of Utah, rode into the Senate
on the same wave with Frazier,
OF North Dakota; Howell, of Me-
braska; Brookhart, Of Iowa: Ship
stead, the Farmer Labor candidate
in Minnesota, and La Toilette, of
Wisconsin. But in Michigan, Indi-
ana and Montana Democratic con-
servatives were elected, and in the
East either conservatives like Gerry
IN Rhode Island; Bayard, in Della
ware; Nicely, in West Virginia, and
Cabell Bruce, in Maryland. or wet
protestants like Edwards, Of New
Jersey, and Copeland, of this state.
In Missouri an communicated
anti Wilsonite was reelected.
The Democratic party tackled on
TO one issue in one state and an
a opposite issue in another. 1t elected
Ewet Senators and dry Senator'S, con-
servatives and radicals, high tariff
and low tariff men, Ieaguers and
anti-leaguers, farm bloc members
and farm bloc non-members. The
same thing may be said of the Re-
publicans elected, except that none
of them was pro league. There was
mo genuine trial Of party strength
on definable party policies. The
election was thus largely q blind
pool affair, so far rs party affilia-
lions were concerned. The voters ex-
pressed their opinions on this ques-
'sion or that and pinned their ap-
proval or resentment on the candi-
date of either party who happened
to be locally available for that pur-
pose.
ic1 1t would be foolish to underrate
the negative value Of the verdict.
II represented protest, and protest
calls for wide-awake, remedial
leadership. But shrewd Democratic
leaders like Senator Walsh are not
deceived. They know that the direc-
zion and brains of the farm bloc
will probably remain Republican,
and that the favor shown to many
Democratic ,Nndidates last week
was, as the Massachusetts, Senator
himself puts 1t, only passive. +"
There has been no new party align
n,ent. But demand FOR more alert
and responsive party management
has been registered, which will
vitaily affect both the old parties
and result in less confusing battle
Ia. 1904