Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-11-25
SOME REASONS FOR
ELECTION RESULTS
REPUBLICANS SAY REBUkE WAS
TO CONGRESS AND NOT TO
THE WHITE HOUSE.
DEMOCRATS THINK DIFFERENT
President Harding Was Not Surprised
by Reverses Sustained by His Party
Calls Extra Session for Action on
Ship Subsidy Bill.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK

Washington.-Th election has come
and gone. Ii may be said that Repub'
lican leaders generally in Washington
were shocked but not stunned by the
news of the day.
They were shocked apparently be
cause Of the unmistakable fact that
the country struck the way 1t did, but
they were not stunned, because the
truth is. most Of the leading Repub-
licans In Washington, more than half
expected that the blow would come.
Ii Is the blunt truth TO say that Re
publcans closely connected with the
administration hold that the general
result OF the election was rebuke 10
congress ana not to the White House.
They do not say this openly, hut COW
ertly. The Democrats declare that
the rebuke was delivered impartlally
to the White House and 10 the capitol.
Washington is seeking reasons for
the great increase In the Democratic
vote. Naturally the Republicans hold
that there - no reason" in i, but
that there are causes for IL. The ma
j0rity of Republicans seem 10 feel that
local considerations and general mat.
tcrs in no way associated with either
Republican administration or Repub-
lean congressional endeavor brought
about the defeat Of the party. They
say that the wet and the dry issues,
conflicts in the party ranks between
conservatism aud radcalism. hlocs and
cllques and various other things are
responsible for the result.
The Democrats on the other hand
claim that the great change in the
vote from the campaign Of 1920 can be
interpreted n nothing more than as
singing rehukc to tie whole course OF
procedure Of the Republican party
since ii came into complete control OF
the government
President Not Surprised.
Occasionally one Is able to learn
things which are not told him directly
by word of mouth. There has been a
feeling in Washington for some time
that President Harding more than half
expected there could be no great vic.
tory for his party this year. and that,
so to put II. he Quarter-way expected
that the Democrats might win pretty
much everything in sight.
Friends of the administration say
the President saw the signs of the
times and they have minated that the
; party's chieftaln did not share the
views OF national committeeman and
others whose business Il is 10 be proph-
cts Of cheer, even II the clouds hahg
low and the thunder roars. II is not
oyerstating things TO say that Presi.
dent Harding probably was the least
surprised man In Washington over the
result of the elections.
Champions Of the League of Nations
see In the election results hope for the
future OF their cause However no
matter what ones views may be on
the beauty and the efficiency. or lack
OF them, OF the league, II would seem
from look nj the election returns
that there Is comparatively little COM
fort 10 be found In them for either
the proleaguers or the anti-leaguers.
The returns have offsets.
Men have been elected because they
were pro.lenguers and men have been
elected because they were anti
leaguers. The situation, so far as an
expression Of sentiment in this matter
is concerned. seems 10 he about where
Il was.
Looking to 1924.
Already the politicians in Washing
ton ARE looking forward 10 1924. Some
of them profess 70 see the elimination
of President Harding as candidate
10 succeed himself Others say ihat
thinking men know the Presidents
course contributed nothing To the cleo
ton day results Sane politicians
know that II is too early for such deal
ing In futures.
An extraordinary session Of con
gress has been called by the President
The present great Republican major
nv In congress Of course will hold
until March 4 next. when the lease OF
life of the present body expires. The
lawmakers will be asked Ia pass the
ship subsidy Hill and certain other adj
mlnistration measures prior 10 next
March. II these measures cannot he
passed nj the extra session or NJ the
short session. some ~ them of course
will have hard travelling in the con
grrsS. which next comes into power.
II Is long while until 1924. \ lot
Of things can happen in two years and
nobody knows Il better than the poll
tlcinns There l. plenty of time he
tween now and the next national CON
ventious for things to happen which
will make or unmakc men whom the
recent election has brought forth into
the light. or has thrown temporarily
into the shade