Evening star., 1922-03-03
We ED|b;Y0U D|DN'TS
FILL POLITICAL AIR
Boasts and Slams Fly Thick
as Republicans Sum Up
Years Achievements. r

Republicans and democrats in Con-
gress are engaging these days in
heated political joint debate. which
might be boiled down to the asser-
tion 1--WE did" and the rebuttal You
didn't" The immediate cause Of the
forensic fury Is the approaching
anniversary of the first year Of the
republican administration and the
prospective congressional campaign.
Tomorrow will round out the
twelvemonth of the new administra-
tion. Republicans are proud OF its
record. Democrats are violently de-
nunciatory. The republicans insist
they have accomplished wonders. The
democrats say the republicans have
left undone the things they ought to
have. have done the things they
ought not to have done. and there is
no health in them"
Senator Lodge writes piece titled
.'The First Republican Year." which
sets forth in detail what the Con-
sress and the administration have
Harrison of Mississippi. always on
the democratic firing line. takes the
floor in the Senate and likewise takes
issues with all republican claims. In
the House Representative Fess. chair.
man of the republican congressional
campaign committee. a scnolar. PM
losopher and politician. paints In glow
ing colors a picture of republican
successful administration. for which
those two very able democrats, Rep
resentatives Garner and Garrett
along with others. have from time to
time sharpened charcoal pencils to
erase.
All of which will probably be vastly
interesting but somewhat dtsconcert-
ing to the independent voters, who
are likely to decide the elections for
the Senate and House to be held next
November. Who is to be believed. In
all these contradictory utterances:
The normal democrat and similarly
con stituted republican will probably
fall naturally into support OF the con-
tention Of their respective leader
ship, but the independents may find
dificulty in striking a balance be-
tween them.
Wonder Over Majority.
One thing calculated to worry the
republican political managers is said
to be the consideration of how that
seven million republican surplus OF
1920 is likely to be allocated in the
congressional elections of next No
vember. Even II the heretofore dem
ocrats should return to the demo-
cratic fold and the normal repub-
licans stand pat for the republican
candidates, there would still be sn in
fiuential element of independents who
might determine the outcome.
The republicans count heavily on
the size Of their present majority in
the House as a means of saving grace,
holding that it will take a landslide
to wipe it out. But they know that
landsiides have happened and appre-
hend that the country Is In very
restless state OF mind at present, q
premonitory symptom OF possible
landslides.
Oidtimers in politics say they have
never seen the democrats in q more
hopeful mood than now, while real
ixinE that hope is a prime asset of
the minority always. But the demo-
cratic political leaders declare they
are convinced that this time their
hope seems to present more substan-
tial threads In its woof and warp
than sometimes hitherto.
Hard season for Prophets.
It promises to be hard season for
the neutral and non-partisan observ-
ers and writers who essay to fore
cast the outcome of the elections
This class will have their job cut out
for them when they take pen in
hand to set down the result Of their
estimate Of popular sentiment in its
seeming drift. At that, they will
have nothing on the leaders Of the
opposing parties. however, from the
present outlook.
Financing the coming campaign
threatens to be a. difficult problem fol
the hat-passers. Both parties are
still faboring with the debts Of the
last campaign, and soon they will
have to fare forth to again shake
down the contributors. All signs are
said to point to q backward spring
and possibly some killing frosts In
this respect. ~