The New York herald., 1922-10-20
Democrats Said to Be Los
ing Ground Faster Than
Republicans.
INSURGENCY is RISING
Radical Waves Sweep Western
Area, Threatening Politi-
cal Upheaval.
By LOUIS sEIBoLD.

ny
Special Dispatch to THE NEw YORK HERALD
CHICAGO, Oct. 19.-Voters through
out the West and presumably the
country over do not appear to enter
tain much better or different opin-
ion of members of Congress than that
held by Gen. Dawes, Secretary of War
Weeks and most of the newspapers.
This fact is clearly established by re-
ports brought to Chicago by leaders
of both parties.
1t is further reflected by the con-
fused and indefinite conditions under
which the battle for the control of
Congress Is being contested along pro-
fessionaf lines. The wholly unsatis-
factory record of members of the pres
ent Congress has provoked the aver
age citizen in the West as we'll as
East to tighten up, not only in the
matter Of campaign contributions but
also in pledging his moral support
and. what is more significant, his Cor
herr vote.
The chief complaint of Congress-
men who are anxious to win another
term is that voters refuse to take
them seriously, or think it really
makes any difference whether a Re-
publican or Democrat goes back to
misrepresent his district again. The
threadbare walls of party candidates
for their constituents to stand by the
grand old party seems to have lost
its power to charm or deceive.
Western Leaders' View.
Men and women voters alike cor
rectly appraise stock arguments and
pledges at their true yalue--they don't
mean anything except pleasant time
for Congressman at the national
capital at the expense Of the taxpay-
ers Wherefore it is the opinion of
Western leaders of both parties that
the voters have lost interest as well
as faith in the protestations of candi-
dates whose past records reveal little
thought or care for so-called party
principles and legitimate issues, but
who follow the line of least resistance
and surrender to the commands of
noisy minority groups seeking special
privileges at the expense of the people.
Most of the appeals that reach the
national committees from candidates
for the two houses are for money and
nothing else. The home folks, having
in mind the bonus scheme to tax them
to the extent of $1,000, 100000 for the
benefit of able bodied soldiers, are not
..xI ...I
they were expected to do. The capa-
BILE ex-service men contribute noise
and threats but no money to their
Congressional friends.
This condition of affairs explains to
some extent the tendency of candi-
dates for the national Legislature TO
dodge the bonus issue wherever possi-
BILE and to make only vague promises
when forced into n corner. There are
many other reasons for the apathy or
Indifference of votes to the whining
appeals of Congressional candidates
their failure to reduce taxes, inability
to comply with the demand OF farm
ers and trades unions for more and
greater special privileges. and the gen.
orally bad or at least worthless record
of the Congress elected along with
President Harding two years ago.
Upsets Are Expected.
Many leaders OF both parties in sew
eral States with whom the writer
has discussed the prospects of their
candidates for Congress will be sur
prised II a number whose present
chances for reelection now seem good
are not left at home and new men sent
in their places on the theory that the
latter cannot possibly turn out any
worse than their predecessors.
According to the leaders in question
political considerations will not alone
be responsible for many of the
changes. A rather comprehensive
survey of the West made by expe-
rienced leaders strengthens the i'm
preston prevailing to date that the
Republicans will hold their present
advantage in the Senate and possibly
gain one or two seats and that their
losses In the lower house will not ex-
ceed sixty seats at the outside, which
will still leave a margin of around
forty majority.
The outstanding reason for this in
dicated result is that the Democratic
party Is losing ground faster than the
Republican party. Both are admitted
to be slumping and losing popular
favor. Their salvation rests in the
fact that while the voters express dis
satisfaction with both parties. the
confused local as well as national po-
liticai conditions have not strystallized
popular sentiment i'm favor of a third
party movement of national scope.
There is admitted to be growing IN
many sections OF the country local
Continued on Page Seven.
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