Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-06
Put Up the Pnrty's Best


- conference in Washington during the
past few days have evolved an idea both
interesting and important. They have
agreed that the party should nominate its
best talent in the coming congressional cam
palgn with the view OF putting into the next
Congress group of the ablcst and most
aggressive leaders IL has, even if ii is i'm
possible for it TO seize control of either
branch of the national legislature
To this end former Governor Cox OF Ohio
presidential standard bearer in the las, cam
pagn. is being urged to stand for the House
again in his district The same is true of
Cordel Hull now Democratic national chair
man; y. Mitchell Palmer Acknowledgement
in the last administration and a score OF
other men whose resourcefulness and whose
Democracy have been tested by eminent
party service. II is even proposed tina, for
mcT Nicc-President Marshall be a candidate
for the Senate in Indiana
With such group In Congress the Demo
cratic party would have a veritable battery
OF brilliant debaters and type OF leader
snip IN national affairs now painfully absent.
With such leaders in the harness, even il
most of them remained in Congress for only
one term. the issues of the presidential
contest of 1924 would be developed upon
more practical lines than if the best brains
IN the party remained on the outside and
engaged in long-range bombardment
1t is evident that the more far-seeing
Democratic leaders are looking beyond 1922
to 1924 1t is infinitely more important
to the party and the country that a COM
polling case be made against the party in
power three years hence than in the cam
paign about 10 open. There might DE some
moral advantage to be gained through the
capture OF the next House. Of course II
hy cba
tority by which the Republicans now hold
that body could be overturned. the effect
OF that reputation would be difficult to
calculate. Undoubtedly IL would he a most
serious blow to the President and TO his
administration
AT the same time, in gaining control
Of the next House the Democratic marty
would definitely share with the Republican
administration responsibility for the rec
ord that would be made during the second
two years OF the Harding regime. All tax
legislation must originate in the House All
appropriations must originate there aside
from the fact that no Legislation of any
character could be enacted without House
concurrence.
1t Is easy to recall that after the Re-
publicans took control Of the House in 1918,
democratic leaders charged that the last
two years of the Wilson regime were fu-
tile. because of the obstruction OF a Repub-
llcan House. The same thing could be
charged with the same effect If the second
half Of the Harding administration was
faced by divided Congress. 1t Is at leas,
debatable whether or not il is the part OF
political wisdom to provide the party in
power with such an alibi
But in looking ahead to 1924 and in re-
solving TO put into the next House group
OF strong men. the Democratic leaders are
showing excellent political sense II a
dozen or more of the foremost Democrats
III the country were in the House during
the next Congress. they would probably
contribute more heavily to the party's pros
poets in 1924 than could majority led
by hody OF mediocre committeeman