Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-11-30
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

and gone. 1t may be said that Repub-
,ican leaders generally in Washington
were shocked but not stunned by the
news of the day.
They were shocked apparently be
cause of the unmistakable fact that
the country struck the way it did, but
they were not stunned, because the
truth is, most of the leading Repub-
leans In Washington, more than half
expected that the blow would come.
II is the blunt truth to say that Re
publicans closely connected with the
administration hold that the general
result of the election was a rebuke to
congress and not to the White House.
They do not say this openly, but COW
ertly. The Democrats declare that
the rebuke was delivered impartIally
to the White House and to the capitol.
Washington is seeking reasons for
the great increase in the Democratic
vote. Naturally the Republicans hold
that there is no treason" In it, but
that there are causes for 1t. The ma
iority of Republicans seem to feel that
local considerations and general mat.
ters in no way associated with either
Republican administration or Repub-
lican congressional endeavor brought
about the defeat of the party. They
say that the wet and the dry issues,
conflicts in the party ranks between
conservatism and radicaism, blocs and
cliques and various other things are
RESPONSIBLE for the result.
The Democrats on the other hand
claim that the great change in the
vote from the campaign Of 1920 can be
interpreted as nothing more than rs
singing rebuke to the whole coarse of
procedure of the Republican party
since 1t came into complete control o.
the government.
President Not Surprised.
Occasionally one is able to learn
things which are not told him directly
by word of mouth. There has been a
feeling In Washington for some time
that President Harding more than half
expected there could be no great vic.
tory for his party this year, and that,
so to put 1t, he quarter-way expected
that the Democrats might win pretty
much everything in sight.
Friends of the administration say
the President saw the signs of the
times and they have intImated that the
party's chieftain did not share the
views Of national committeeman and
others whose business it is to be proph-
cts of cheer, even If the clouds hang
low and the thunder roars. 1t is not
overstatlng things to say that Presi-
dent Harding probably was the least
surprised man In Washington over the
result of the elections.
Champions of the League of Nations
see In the election results hope for the
future of their cause. However, no
matter what ones views may be on
the beauty and the efficiency, or lack
of them, of the league, 1t would seem
from a look at the election returns
that there is comparatively little COM
fort to be found In them for either
the pro-leaguers or the anti-leaguers.
The returns have offsets.
Men have been elected because they
were pro-leaguers. and men have been
elected because they were anti
leaguers. The situation, so far as an
expression of sentiment in this matter
Is concerned. seems to be about where
II was.
Looking to 1924.
Already the politicians In Washing
ton are looking forward to 1924. Some
of them profess to see the elimination
OF President Harding as candidate
to succeed himself Others say that
thinking men know the Presidents
course contributed nothing to the cleo
ton day results. Sane politicians
know that it is too early for such deal
ing In futures.
An extraordinary session of con
gress has been called by the President
The present great Republican major
ity in congress Of course will hold
until March 4 next. when the lease OF
life of the present body expires. The
lawmakers will be asked to pass the
ship subsidy bill and certain other adj
ministration measures prior to next
March. If these measures cannot be
passed at the extra session or at the
short session. some Of them Of course
will have hard travelling In the con-
gress, which next comes into power.
II Is long while until 1924. A lot
Of things can happen in two years and
nobody knows it better than the poll
ticians. There Is plenty Of time be
tween now and the next national con.
ventions for things to happen, which
will make or unmake men whom the
recent election has brought forth into
the light, or has thrown temporarily
into the shade.