The New York herald., 1922-05-04
COP. Leaders Declare Out
come Is Not Reputation
of Harding Regime.
PRESIDENT NOT FACTOR
Revival of Progressive Spirit
Also Advanced as a Reason
for Result.
BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.

BY LOUIS sEIBOLD.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HmALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, d. c.. May 3.
Out Of the confused Impressions in
spired by the Indiana primary results
yesterday the two most generally ac-
cepted were naturally more comfort
ing to Democratic than Republican
leaders.
These, in their relative Importance,
were the implied dissatisfaction Of the
Indiana voters with the record of the
majority party in Congress and
logical swing of popular sentiment
against 1t.
Impartial commentators. while con-
ceding certain amount of justif1ca-
ton for these conclusions. insisted
that the impressive victory OF Alfred
j. Beveridge over Harry S. New for
the Senatorial nomination was chiefly
of personal character.
Mr.. Bcveridge did not attack tn.
Administration of President Harding.
He made no attempt to ALLEVIATE the
voters from support o. the Admins
tration. While Mr.. New is personal
friend Of the President. the latter
maintained absolute neutrality in the
contest.
The influence OF the Administration
never was a factor in the battle. Be-
cause of the close personal relations
between the President ard Mr.. New
Democratic members OF Congress and
their party leaders insisted that vic
tory for Mr.. Beveridgc would be tanta-
mount to repudiation of the Admins
tration.
Underlying Conviction.
This, of course. was the Democratic
Interpretation of the results, and to
some extent 1t was shared by a few
Republican leaders, Senators and Rep
rcsentatives, as logical If not wholly
accurate. But back of all the argu-
ments and explanations advanced 20
account for the defeat of Mr.. New
was the conviction that Mr.. Bever,
idge's two year fight for the Repub-
llcan nomination for the Senate made
the strongest appeal to the voters of
his State on grounds largely personal.
There is no discounting tie fact
that the triumph OF Mr.. Beveridge re-
fected pronounced dissatisfaction with
the failure of Congress to keep the
pledges Of the party to adopt a policy
OF retrenchment and economy and
move to the amelioration of economic
conditions consequent upon the era
of waste and extravaganza during the
war.
Republican leaders in sympathy
with the purposes of the Harding Ad-
ministration and few who are openly
sntagonistic were compelled to admit
privately to-day that these pledges
had not been kept. Admissions of this
sort were chiefly responsible for the
contention of Democratic leaders tha.
"the tide tas set In against the Re-
publican party"
Lack of Team Work..
This state of mind naturally inspired
predictions that the advantage won by
Mr.. Harding two years ago would be
swept away In the coming Con-
gressional elections unless some Of the
damage resulting from lack of CO.
operation between the President and
his party in Congress was Immediately
repaired.
The fact that. of the Republican
Representatives from Indiana were
renominated somewhat impaired tic
Democratic version of the Indians
test" and served to strengthen the
opinion that Mr.. Beveridge's victory
was largely dictated by personal con-
siderations.
The Democrats refused to accept
any explanations of the Indiana re-
suits that clear-headed Republican
leaders advanced. The Democratic
explanation was mainly of a chrono-
logical character. They pointed to
the defeat OF two old-time Republican
members of Congress in the Illinois
primary heavy cut In the normal
Republican majority in the Thirty
seventh New York district in the spe-
cial election; the Democratic victories
In the local elections in Connecticut,
and finally the refusal of the Repub-
lican leaders in Congress to be guided
by the President and leaders OF State
organizations who are In thorough ac-
cord with him.
Republican leaders in and out of
Congress refused to take pessimistic
view of the Indiana results. They
enumerated several causes for the de-
feat OF Mr.. New. making certain
allowance for the popular dissatisfac-
tion with any party In power. They
admitted that Mr.. New had the sup
port Of the Indiana party organization
and the good wishes of the Harding
Continued on Page Tour.