Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-22

Washington, d. c., Dec. 19.-One Of
the classic tales of Washington ews
paperdom is that of the managing
editor who wired his correspondent
here one night, There is something in
the air: rush 1000 words" The editor
had q hunch-a feeling that a big news
story was about to break-and the tale
has it that he was right. His cor
respondent 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
ar, politically. Party leaders in Wash
lngton have the same sort of Fremont
ton that the editor had. They have
the feeling that something is about to
nappen-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.
Ihat shadoWy yet very real and al
togethef powerful entity called 1.-THE
people" is about to demand something
or do something. Events impend. The
atmosphere is electric with portent.
n barometer is rising or falling or
dong some dizzying stunt.
In consequence there is u~neasiness
and disquietitude among the statesmen
near-statesmen. They don't know
whether TO take to the cyclone cellar
or go out and try to make hay. They
cant tell whether it is raining rain or
violets-they are not even suye it is
raining or about to rain. They only
know that they have that vague, in
describable feeling o unlike the
graveyard feeling so familiar to the
-.
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 extravaganza
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 senators
and shreWd congressman are distract
here but not present. Cabinet dig
nitaries 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 q certain prize
alredale has recognized on several oc-
caslons u strange 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, II
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. pro-
gressives. .drys. vets, conservatives,
laborites, farmerites-all of them are
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. will react most favorably, and
to adopt it for ones self or ones party
or group. The easiest way Of accom-
! plishing this, if one does not possess
the prescienc of absolute political gen
Jus. is TO put out .feelers,' which
means to u something new i'll a
legislative way and then wait 10 see
whether the plain people cry for it or
dare you to try it.
The late Colonel Roosevelt was a
postmaster of this when he was in
his prime. He had a way of getting
q new idea before the people that was
not equaled by any Of his contempor-
aries. and he was also about two jumps
ahead of everybody else in deciding
whethr it met with sufficient popular
approval to justify his making Il fight
for it.. This does moi mean Roosevelt
was solely a weather-yan statesman.
1t is evidence Of his political sagacity.
He could lead ii ~foriorn 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 ont
now by members Of congress and by
men and groups outside official life
who aspire TO political leadership. Sew
erai Of them bear directly on elections.
For example, there are four or five
proposals in connection with the presi-
dency, One is to establish a presiden-
tial primary system that would do
Il VI ~ wan hpiiiit4dttphS ny bIjItBdt t'lb-
ventions. Another would effect the alb
clifton of the electoral college and pro-
vide for the direct election Of the
president. Another would change the
presidential term of office from four
TO six years and provide that II presi-
dent could not be reelected. and still
another would advance the date Of the
inauguration of the PRESIDENT from
March 4 to early in January.
Closely connected with his last pro-
posnl is one to change the beginning Of
the session Of a newly elected congress
to a date early in January following
til election. As now provided. a con-
gress that is chosen in November does
not begin functioning until Is months
later unless it is called in special SEES
sion 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 re-
sponsive To the popular will. 1t is
also contended that when the people
have voted for a change by overturning
the majority in Il sitting congress there
should be the least possible delay in
giving the people what they have voted
for.
On the other hand, those who oppose
charge their debt. The United
States does not want their goods
either. Nor does any other coun-