Evening star., 1922-01-22
WANTED: A WIZARD !.
ON SHIP PROBLEMS
President Harding Would Utilize His
Wisdom to Save American Merchant
Marine From Ruin.

military project. 1t is reported that
the French budget for 1922 carries
$247.000,000 for support of the French
army. but omits provision for pay
ment OF interest on the war debt.
Yet, in the outcome, it is not ex-
pected that France will be held to
harsh terms by this government.
While at first blush the backward
ness in interest payment meets with
public disapproval. while the mill
taristic program is being carried out,
the feeling among the leaders in Con-
gress is that it is not desirable to
put down the screws" on any of the
debtor nations.
There will be more bark than bite
in the fulminations in Congress, and
if the French people could only sense
and be less sensitive, they would be
happier over the outlook.
The United States and Great Britain
are assumed to be in accord in the
sentiment of being lenient with Ger
many in the matter of reparations,
looking economic facts in the face.
which Is part and parcel of general
attitude of patience, toleration. lib
erality and even generosity toward
the whole war debt subject.
The country is regarded by big
men In Congress as being big enough,
with latent prosperity enough. to be
easy with debtors whose obligations
grew out of the horror of 1914.
ik x
Help" cries. Chairman Hull of the
democratic national committee, pass
ing around the hat the same week
that the republican congressional
committee reorganizes and girds for
the coming campaign for the carry
ing Of the next House Of Represent
atives if possible. Chairman Hull al
lows that the national committee is
well nigh broke and must have funds.
He gives an alluring prospectus of
the possibilities of an active cam
paign If good democrats will only
come across with the wherewithal. He
says that reports coming to head
cratic interest throughout the coun-
try. and he wants means of publicity
to lay the iniquities of the republi-
can party before the people.
Il \ 4
The republican organization for the
Congress campaign is regarded by
politicians as being in high state of
efficiency for the approaching con-
test. The republicans complain of
tight money. too, but that is a per-
ennial malady in both political
camps. Somehow. when the pinch
comes. both parties seem to manage
to scrape up enough to worry
through.
In an off-year, when there is no
presidential contest on, the campaign
is more localized to congressional dis
tricts and the national congressional
campaign committees find their main
efforts directed to the weakest spots,
drawing help from the stronger to
distribute where it is most needed.
X X
Candidates for Congress are i'm
pressed with the necessity of work
ing out their own salvation in large
degree, but they insist that the ma
tional organization has a large stake
in their individual game, which is
true, because it is of Importance to
the party as a whole that the largest
possible majority be maintained in
the House, for moral effect on the
next presidential campaign, and for
the same reason the minority wants
to weaken or overthrow the ma
jority.
Comment is free about this stage of
the campaign on the alleged scare"
Of the republicans over their outlook.
Don't take too much stock in that
talk and don't place any bets on it
yet.
The politicians find it salutary and
advisable to circulate alarmist stories
from time to time. It increases
morale and helps collections. None of
the leaders deny the fact that there
are troubles in the situation in Con-
gress which throw an influence over
party prospects, but the vexations are
not admitted to be vital. They will
have to be dealt with and there Is no
lack Of courage for the Undertaking
and no real despair Of successfully
overcoming them.
Democratic politicians realize that
they have weaknesses Of their own,
one Of them being that the party has
not yet reorganized after the crushing
defeat of 1920. Neither can the demo-
Gratis lay claim to maintaining solid
front. They have their factions,
mainly traceable to presidential as
pirations and to the friction between
radical and conservative forbes within
the party.
The principal democratic need is
said to be strong. dominating per-
sonality to assume the national lead
ership and create q nucleus around
which the scattered units Of the party
can reunite.
And the hour when such a figure ap-
pears, he will find rivals springinK up
all around him, contesting his claim
to leadership.
ASSIGNED TO PHILIPPINES.
Maj. Gen. Omar Bundy has been