Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-12
Importance of This Years Elections
By Frederic J. Haskin

Washington, Oct. t2.--On-yeor cam
paiens and elections are interesting
chiefly for their bearing on the next
struggle for the Presidency. This is
especially true of the fight now on
which will terminate November Z. IL
will determine the political compleKlon
of the next Congress and which party.
VIII control the official machinery II
various states. and all that Is impor-
tant. but the big thing II viii do VIII
be to spotlight the men who VIII con
teat for the great prize In 1924. In
way II will be the qualification or
elimination round Of the presidential
tournament.
At the same time the general re-
suits of the 1922 elections will be ac-
cepted as indicative Of the political
trend throughout the country, fore
ehadowing what will probably happen
two years hence.
If the Republicans retain control
Of Congress and are measurably sue
cessful In the state contests, they will
look forward to 1924 with rehoubled
confidence. fer they regard this as an
endorsement Of the Harding admin
stration and Of the party'e legislative
program.
On the other hand. II the Democrats
should carry either the House or the
/ Senate. and IL they should win in one
or two Of the pivotal states. they would
/ have grounds fer tho belief that theii
/ party is about 10 stage come back
/ They would 30 into the next flght with
a far more aggressive spirit and thell
forces that are now somewhat dsln
tegrated could be marshalled far NOR,
easily into a formidable fighting ma
chine.
Peculiarly enough. while all Repub
licans arc of one mind as to the desra
bllity cf their retaining control OF Con
gross there are differences Of opinion
among Democrats as to whether j
would be n, good thing for them {
elect an actual majority in eithe
branch OF the national law maxim
body. a few Democratic leaders IN
. slst that nil they want ls 10 score sub
stantlal gains in the congressiona
elections, leaving the Republicans (
. control OF Congress by tho narrowes
possible margin. This, they "a,
would not only make the Rcpubl
cans solely responsible for whateve
happens In n legislative way durln
the next IL months. but would ais
? make 10 impossible for tho Republ
cans to explain any failure % carr
out their program by blaming the pc.
l pie for eiecting n Democratic Hou,
4 or Senate. These Democrats al,
]. I fgrinF sha4
e troll Of Congress II will be Incurnbe-
|, upon II 70 make an affirmative reco
on which 10 90 before the people
L 1924. That is 70 say the Denocra
. would be expected 10 pass bills or
bodying their views on the more IN
. portsnt issues. and it Is quite possit
that they might get into a wrana
d among themselves over such que
o tons as the tariff. the bonus sh
o subsidy. Industrial relations. and q
Ike. that would prove disastrous.
u Moreover. even II they could z
q together on constructive program
< Legislation anything they might
y would doubtless he nullined by Z
veto Of President Harding. and In di
. approving Democratic measures Z
: Republican President might find
/ easy 10 make coneiderable polite
d capital for himself and his party.
q Such may be said 10 be the vie-vu
e the more cautious Democratic lea
Is ers. Others who are more militia
i insist that II would be a good thi
" Tor their party 10 win every possi
Y seat in the House and Senate. II
element is willing to take chances
10 being able to make a record that '
lie appeal 10 the people and believes Il
at It will be altogether to the advants
le OF their party 10 be in a position
es make It impossible for the Repul
re cans to carry out their leg!slat
ne program.
ne All this has 10 do with the fine
ne OF the great game of politics. BY
us the more interesting phase OF the D
O. sible results OF the present canpa
or is the development Of star players
w the game. Most Democrats who
ss ure in national affairs and practicc
nd all the expert political observers az
that the Democratic standard bea
n. for 1924 viii emerge from the 81
ticnS next month Somewhere