The Washington herald., 1922-01-15

paign on that old program, blaming
the Republicans for not permitting
them to put II into effect, and con-
trasting the rosy promises it made
with the actual conditions that ex-
list.
In neither Of these official party
programs Is there much to give
comfort to a hungry man. Both the
Republicans and the Democrats are
in q weak position to appeal to the
Dblic so far as the House and Sem
ate are concerned. The Republi-
cans have one indirect asset of
which they will make the most.
They will do much pointing with
pride to- the record OF Harding and
his Cabinet in the way of govern
ment good housekeeping, and bust
ness MANAGEMENT. 1t Is quite true
that 1t is not Harding and his
Cabinet who are up for re-elec-
ton this year. but, nevertheless, the
Republicans will do all they can to
stretch the, mantle of Harding over
all the Republican Congressman up
for election. The information that
comes to Washington from a great
section of the country is to the CT
feet that Harding's personal popu-
larity continues practically unabat-
ed. but that the voters are making
a clear distinction between the Re-
publican President and the Repub-
lican Congress.
Old @. o p. Issues Gone.
The clear fact lis that the issues
which carried the Republicans into
power so strongly in 1890 will not
avail them in 1922 The chief is
sues that helped the Republicans
In 1920 were two: First, the wide
spread dissent with the league of
nations; and, second, a powerful
wave of temporary and emotional
discomfort with Wilson personally.
As to the feeling toward Wilson.
that has. in a considerable degree,
died down, and Wilson Is today a
much more appealing figure than
he was in the Presidential cam
paign of 1920: but that will avail
neither Republicans nor the Demo-
Gratis. President Wilson's health
Is such that he will not be able to
provide the Democrats with any
leadership this year. Every once
In while it Is said that he will
be, but everyone close to the facts
knows il cannot be.
As to the policy of isolation from
European affairs which helped the
Republicans 50 much in 1920, that
issue has completely gone by the
board. At the present moment, in
deed, the Republican party Is ask
Ing the country to indorse a par
tial step toward international CO.
operation OF the same sort that
Wilson, through the league of ma
tions, proposed in a greater de-
gree. The Republicans can no
longer preach isolation as a doc
trine when they are themselves in
the very act of taking the first
step away from IL.
The net of II all Is that it Is the
state of the country that will most
largely determine the results of the
elections in America this year. The
times are bad. and while they are
likely to improve materially by
November, that Improvement is not
going to be enough to help the Re-
pdblicans greatly. In hard times
the party in power suffers, and TIL.
Republicans know that this year
will be no exception to that rule.
Farm bloc best Asset
In this state of affairs the farm
bloc, which the older Republicans
revile: Is likely to provide them
with their best asset l have been
told by competent judges of polit-
ical conditions in some parts, OF the
Middle West that but for the farm
bloc We would have seen a third
party arise In that section, to ex-
press the discomfort arising out of
farm conditions. That aspiration
for something new and radical has
been absorbed and satisfied by
those local Republican Senator's
and Representatives who have Joined
the farm bloc and acted with Il.
These farm bloc members have
turned what would have been a
serious Republican detection into
an asset, and the Republicans will
hold districts which otherwise they
would have lost. Moreover, most
OF the measures passed by the
present Congress which have been
designed to help distressed farm
ing conditions have been originated
ana pressed through by the farm
bloc. When the campaign Is well
under way the Republicans will be
found pointing with pride to the
record Of those farm bloc leader.
whom The aIHar l. 49, --.-r-