Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-12
IMPORTANCE OF COMING
ELECTION is SHOWN -.
Daily Letter by Frederic J. Haskin

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-Off-
year campaigns and elections are
interesting chiefly for their bearing
on the next struggle for the Presi-
dency. This is especially true of
the fight now on which will termi-
nate November Z. 1t will determine
the political complexion of the next
congress and which party will con-
troll the official machinery of the
various states, and all that is i'm
portant. but the big thing it will
do will be to spotlight the men
who will contest for the great prize
in 1924. In a way it 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
accepted as indicative of the politi-
cal trend throughout the country,
foreshadowing what will probably
happen two years hence.
If the Republicans retain control
of congress and are m~easurably sue
oessful in the state contests, they
will look forward to 1924 with re-
doubled confidence, for they would
regard this as an endorsement of
the Harding administration and of
the rarty's legislative program.
On the other hand, if the Demo-
Gratis should carry either the House
or the senate. and if they should
win in one or two of the pivotal
states, they would have grounds for
the belief that their party is about
to stage a comeback. They would
go into the next fight with a far
moro aggressive spirit and their
forces that are now somewhat dis
i~ntegrated could be marshalled far
more easily into a formidable fight
ing machine.
Peculiarly enough, while all Re-
pUblicans are of one mind as to the
desirability of their retaining con
troll of ongress there are differ
snces of opinion among Democrats
as to whether it would be a good
thing for them to elect an actual
majority in either branch of the ma
tionsl law making body. A few
Democratic leaders insist that all
they want is to score substantial
gains in the congressional elections,
leaving the Republicans in control
of congress by the narrowest pos
sible margin. This, they say, would
not only make the Republicans sole
ly responsible for whatever happens
in a legislative way during the next
eighteen months, but would also
make it impossible for the Repub-
licans to explain any failure to
carry out their program by blam-
ing the people for %electing a Demo-
cratic House or senate. These Dem
ocrats also point out that If their
party gets control of congress 1t
will be incumbent upon 1t to make
an affirmative record on which to
go before the people in 1924. That
Is to say, the Democrats would be
expected to pass bills embodyiAg
their views on the more important
issues, and it Is quite possible that
they might get into a wrangle
among themselves over such ques-
lions as the tariff, the bonus, ship
subsidy, industrial relations, and the
like. that would prove disastrous
Harding Might Use Veto Power
Moreover, even If they could
get together on a constructive pro-
gram of legislation anything they
might do would doubtless be multi
fed by the veto of President Har-
ding, and in disappearing Demo-
era tic measures the Republican
President might find it easy to make
considerable political capital for
himself and his party.
Such may be said to be the views
of the more cautious Democratic
leaders. Others who are more mill
tant insist that it would be a good
thing for their party to win every
| possible seat in the House and SEN
ate. This element is willing to take
chances on being able to make a
record that will appeal to the peo-
PIE and believes that it will be alto
eether to the advantage of their
rarity to be in a position to make
it impossible for the Republicans
to carry out their legislative pro-
gram.
All this has to do with the fnesse
OF the great game Of politics. BY
far the more interesting phase OF
the possible results Of the present
campaign is the development OF star
players of the game. Most Demo-
| Gratis who figure in national affairs
and practically all the expert podti-
cal observers agree that the Demo-
cratic standard bearer for ga VIII
emerge from the elections next
month. Somewhere. in one of the
important fights for a governorsh;p
or for a seat in the senate. a nan
will loom up they say, who persona
fies the leadership of which the
party Ia 80 sadly in need OF at pres
eta. TNgst ia
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