Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-01
MARK SULLIVAN MAKES PREDICTION
ON POLITICAL SITUATIONS IN 1922

ent story. Tho Democrats fully hope
to make great reduction In the pres
eut Republican strength of more than
two to one. Some of them go so far
as to hope to win majority for them
selves in the Lower House. This Is
moro possible than In the case of the
senate. 1t Just happens that the par
ticular third of the states, which hold
senatorial elections this year are SO dis
tributed in a political sense as not to
give encouragement to the Democrats.
But the Lower house elections will
take in the country as whole The
conditions are curiously such that /
would take less of a landslide to carry
the Lower house in ths country as q
whole than to carry enough of the re-
stricted number of states in which
senatorial elections will be held to give
a Democratic senate majority.
The Democrats would be more glad
to win the house without winning the
senate, than to win both. This Sounds
like the Fox and Grapes fatle, but
from the standpoint of political STRAIT
egy there is soundness in IL. In fact.
some of the Democrats limit their de-
sires as well as their expectations to
merely making gains in the senate and
house, without going so far as to con-
troll either. The theory is that looking
forward to the presidential election tho
Democrats would prefer to have the
responsibility for the management of
the country on the Republicans rather
than on themselves. They say that
from their party standpoint, 1t would
be disadvanageous to have the respon-
sibility for legislation at time, when
the Republican president could veto
their work. The end of all this is
that the principal Democratic hope this
year Is to make gains striking that
they VIII be received as an expression
of marked dissatisfaction with the Re-
publican regime.
In connection with some of these
senatorial elections strikingly interest
Ing situations are just now in course
of development. OF the entire thirty
two seats involved. 1t is now expected
that all but one or possibly two of the
present incumbcnts Will seek re-elec-
ton. One senator to whom there has
been attributed n disposition to retire
voluntarily. is that veteran Democrat,
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi.
II is probable that only n voluntary
refusal to run would eliminate him.
lie has long been in such favor in his
state that he has been able to serve
fourteen years In the senate. and be-
fore that, fifteen years in the house.
on the last occasion of his recollection
TO the senate he had no opposition in
the Democratic primary. which in
10 lue VI eicS-
ton. II Mr.. Williams should retire,
1t is likely to mark the re-entry into
politics of that extraordinary figure.
who was retired by his state four years
ago. and who is credited with the wish
FOR "A new lease of power. James X.
Nardaman.
one OF the most interesting situa-
tons OF the year will develop In In
diana. The present incumbent Harry
VI ,xsttt col 10. rot t.
suro to have formidable opposition.
For some months there have been de-
sultory calls for ex-senator Albert j.
BcvcridSe to re-enter active political
life. Just lately these calls have ap-
preached such a degree of organized
Bcveridgc will contest the primaries
with New. New will have the backing
of the Republican party organization.
1t IL also expected TINT the reported
public evidences OF his close personal
association with Harding will be relied
on TO help him. but that Bevcridgc Is
ono OF the out-sta nding political f.
cures OF time. goes without saying.
lie will have the benefit OF a strong
rcsidium OF that old Progressive sem
tlment. which formed his political
strength during the many years hc has
already spent In the Senate. Since
his retirement Beveridgo has madc
such fruitful use OF his leisure as
is alone to enough to mark him as 4
distinguished man and to justify those
OF his admirers vino want to return
him In the senate. Bcveridge's life of
John Marshall Ia one OF the best pieces
OF work In the world OF literature and
history That has appeared In the pre-
sen. generation. His participation. Il
he does participate will make the COM
ing Indiana primaries one OF the two
or three most important political
events OF the coming year.
Whether Bc.eridge should win the
primaries or whether New should win
them. in either event the successful
candidate Will have another hurdle In
the election afterward. Indiana is at
almost all times n doubtful state and
In the present year will be more
doubtful than usual. Whoever is to
be tho Democratic candidate for the
senate. must. like the Republican FIRST
win that distinction In his part pri-
mHrics. but whoever It is will undoubt-
odly give the Republican candidate a
close race. At tho present moment
many Democratic leaders. both in In
diana and out OF II. are eager TO name
cx-vicc- president Thomas r. Marshall
to make tho Democratic race. Mr.
Marshall ms a public figure, regardless
of politics. is IN his own way as dis
as Beveridgc. II has fire.
qucntly been said of Marshall that he
has done injustice to his own talents
by declining to take himself seriously
The jpcular irrcvercnce which always
marked his public allusions to himself
and to his office OF vice. president. has
caused the public to fail to have a just
Of his real value. All in all
II is reasonably certain that Indiana
will provide some Of tho most inter
esting political developments of the
year.
In Massachusetts. Senator Lodge will
appear as senatorial candidate for
tho sixth time. to enumcrete the fac
tors that give Importance and interest
to his candidacy for reelection. would
be too obvious. He has had "A longer
service than any living
senator. He is more than merely the
Republican leader In the senate-he is.
in fact. sort of symbol OF the Repub-
lican leader in the Republican party.