The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-23
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC ,. HAsKN. Director.
Wa&hington. d. O.
SOMETHING IN THE AIR

editor had a hunch-a feeling that a
big news story was about to break
and the tale has it that he was right.
His correspondent having been warned
to be on the alert and get busy. did
some digging and turned up a worth
while SCOOP
Just now there is something in the
air, politically. Party leaders in
premonition that the editor had. They
have the feeling that something 10
about to happen-a new leader or a
new idea is about to appear, or a
change is to be made in the way the
game Of politics is played. There is
to be a new party, or a realignment
within the old parties. That shadowy
yet very real and altogether power
full entity called the people IS about
to demand something or do something.
Events ,mpend. The atmosphere is
electric with portent. The barometer
is rising or falling or doing some
diZzying stunt.
In consequence there is uneasiness
and disquietude among the statesmen
and near-statesmen. They don't know
whether to take to the cyclone cellar
or go out and try to make hay. They
can't tell whether it is raining rain
or violets-they are not even sure it
il raining or about to rain. They only
know that they have that vague, in
describable feeling not unlike the
graveyard feeling so familiar to the
small boy.
When managing editors feel that
way they send cryptic messages to cor
respondents or issue orders that send
the members of the local staff out to
demonstrate that they possess what Is
Known as "a nose for news" When
statesmen get the feeling they put
their ears to the ground. Therefore it
may be said without extreme extrava-
gance that the ground around these
parts is covered with ears, even as the
forest is carpeted with autumn leaves
come the first killing frost. Staid SEN
ators and Shrewd congressman are dis
trait.-here but not present. Cabinet
dignitaries have the strained look that
comes with the use of a mediocre
radio outfit-they hearken but they
hear not.
1t is even said that a certain prize
Airedale has recognized distinctly on
several occasions a strange preoccu-
pied note in his masters voice and
that the White House victrola-if
there is a White House victrola-now
and then plays that old record, 81
Wonder What the Folks Back Home
Are Thinking"
Party Managers Nervous.
Party managers are nervous and
suffer from insomnia or talk in their
sleep Despite all their public state
ments it is apparent that they really
are at a loss TO interpret the results
of the recent elections. They know
what happened. but they can not ex-
plain it. Republicans, Democrats.
progressives, dryS, vets, conservatives,
more than a bit puzzled by that in
tangible but portentous something in
the air." and every one of them is
anxious to be the first to get a line on
what is about to happen and beat the,
others to it.
That is the test of leadership-to be
able to discern, the reform proposal or
the issue to which the public mind,
under conditions such as obtain at
present, viii react most favorably
and to adopt it for ones self or ones
party or group. The easiest way of
accomplishing this, If one does not
possess the prescience of absolute po-
htical genius, is to put out ''feelers,"
new in legislative way and then wait
to see whether the plain people cry
for it or dare you to try it.
The late Colonel Roosevelt was a
past master of this when he was in his
prime. He had a way of getting a
new idea before the people that was
not equalled by any of his contempo-
raries. and he was also about two
Gliding whether it met with sufficient
popular approval to Justify his maxi
ing a fight for 1t. This does not mean
that Roosevelt was solely a weather.
vane statesman. 1t is evidence of his
political sagacity. He could lead
forlorn hope-with a courage that some
characterized as folly, but he preferred
not to waste his time and energy in
making a fight that was foredoomed
to failure.
FeeIers Being Put Out Now.
Numerous feelers are being put out
now by members of congress and by
men and groups outside official life
who aspire to political leadership.
Several of them bear dir city on cleo
tions. For example. there are four or
five proposals in connection with the
presidency. One Is to establish a pres
idential primary system that would do
away with nominations by national
conventions. Another would effect the
abolition OF the electoral college and
provide for the direct election of the
president Another would change the
presidential term of office from four
to six years and provide that presi-
dent could not be reelected, and still
another would advance the date of the
inauguration of the president from
March 4 to carly in January.
Closely connected with this last pro-
posal is one to change the beginning
OF the-session OF a newly-elected con-
gress to a date early in January fol-
lowing the election. As now provided
a congress that is chosen in November
does not begin functioning until thir-
teen months later unless it is called in
special session in the interim between
March 4 and the following December,
and the argument is advanced that the
effect of this is to make congress less
to the popular will. 1t is
also contended that when the people
have voted for a change by overturn-
ing the majority in a sitting congress
there should be the least possible delay
IN giving the people what they have
voted for.
On the other hand. those who op
pose this proposal insist that it might
result in the stampeding Of a congress
into hasty or carelessly worked out
and that experience has
demonstrated the wisdom of the pres
ent arrangement. Men of this school
of thought are essentially conserva-
tive and believe that before setting
about giving the people what they
want care should be taken to ascertain
just what it is that the people are de- |
Some OF them even suggest
that the people do not always know |
what they want and sometimes want |