Evening star., 1922-12-27
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
woodrow Wilson and william Jen-
nings Bryan, in the estimation of
democratic politicians, continue to
have the largest personal following
OF any two men in tho democratic
party. For the present, Mr.. Wilson
Ii not drawing upon his asset nor
using his influence in efforts to direct
the destinies Of his party. MT. Bryan
constantly does 80 by suggestions
and advice to tho leaders in Congress
and the party managers. BY the time
the next presidential campaign gets
q good start the politicians expect
Mr.. Wilson to take a more active part
mocracy and in frequent conferences
with the directors and shapers of
policies.
Mr.. Bryan is far from being a past
number in democratic politics. not
withstanding his long and unbroken
record of defeats for office. This is
explained by the fact that, though
mis- personal fortunes have been
disastrous, he has the satisfaction of
advocated enacted into the law of the
!and. This accounts for his hold on
the rank and file of his party. The
iact that the republican party has
taken over some of his policies doubt
less adds to his satisfaction. Many
VIII recall the cartoons of Col. Roose-
welt welt, ,r.unning off with Bryan's
Mr.: Bryan is frequent visitor to
washington for the purpose of con-
ferring with the leaders in Congress
and ne Is received by them with every
mark OF consideration. Only a few
days ago he called at the Capitol and
repaired to the reception room Of the
Senate, where. as soon as his pres
ence was known. he was visited by
score OF senators. Senator Pat Har-
rison of Mississippi invited him to go
into the senator's private lobby, but
ne modestly declined and stayed in
tional Capital he has no hesitation
in expressing his opinion to legisla-
TORS about legislation and policies in
most emphatic manner
x y X x.
There is every indication that Mr..
Bryan is to have another head-on
collision with a faction in his party.
1t is to be over prohibition-a repeti-
ton OF the losing fight he made a,
the San Francisco convention. With
the northern and middle west demo-
Gratis leaning very decidedly toward
light wines and beers. Mr.. Bryan viii,
seek TO drive the southern and west
ern prohibition states into resisting
any weakening or modification of the
Volstead act.
New York Nou, Tar,,,. ,f,...,.
setts. Pennsylvania and Ohio will go
to battle with him. and. with the nu-
mericaI strength of these states in
tne convention, the politicians are
predicting that again will the great
commoner' suffer defeat of cher
ished program
MT. Bryan not only essays to ad-
wise his own party. but now and then
points out how the republicans could
improve their ways. On the occasion
OF MS last visit to WASHINGTON he
suggested that President Harding
should make protest to foreign ma
tions against the alleged tacit aid
they render to the violation of the
eighteenth amendment through per-
mitting their nationals to engage in
whisky smuggling.
X X r
Mr.. Wilson is expected. in his owl,
good time, to emerge from his pres
ent state of political seclusion and
start campaign for revival of the
league of nations project or some
thing equally as good" along that
line. Just now, and for some time
past. all requests for expression OF
opinion from him on political or other
questions are met with the polite
reply: Mr.. Wilson is not discussing
public questions at this time"
man Will get an interview from him
which Will be the journalistic coup
of the period. Here's hopin
X Y X
1t would be trite, almost bromidic
to refterste suggestion of Mr.. Will
sons place in the affection and
esteem Of hundreds of thousands OF
his fellow-democrats. 1t is not all
but regard for his character and the
ideals he has stood and still stands
for. But he, too, as we'll as Mr.
Bryan, will have to contest with a
faction in his party. There are di-
visions among democrats over the
league OF nations as acute as those be-
tween the most irreconcilable republican
and the stanchest supporter of Mr.
Wilson,
Like political John the Baptist
Mr.. Cox of Ohio is doing missionary
work for the league the while Mr.
Wilson is silent. His success or fail
ure cannot be estimated. but he Is
keeping the torch aflame.
X X X X
1t is subject of comment with
both republican and democratic poll
ticians what a difference there is in
the morale Of the democracy for the
past SIX months or more as con.
trasted with the slump which existed
in the closing months of 1920 and
early in 1921. The republicans dom,
like it at all and some of the leaders
view with alarm the way the
democrats point with pride" a,
themselves.
The democrats began to, cheer up a,
the time the republican Congress was
coming in for such widespread criti-
cism and complaint. All that talk
was a wonderful tonic to the demo-
Gratis and they lost no opportunity to
pass. it along and to fan the flame OF
discomfort. Then came the November
elections to put the democrats fairl.
on their feet, headed upgrade with q
stride. Now there is almost no liv.
ing with them for their pride and
confidence.
The psychology of success must not
be Gnderestimated as political asse,
of vast potency. 1t can be counted
upon to draw the wayering back tc