Evening star., 1922-03-23
POUT|CALPOT SOON
TOSTART BOILING
Illinois Primaries to Open
Campaign Predicted to
Become Hot.

Two weeks from next Tuesday the
first of the nationwide primary and
convention methods of naming candi-
dates for election to the House of
Representatives will be applied. Illi-
nois starting the ball rolling. Then.
through April. warming up in May
and June, getting hotter in July and
sizzling by August. the contests will
proceed. The last primary or con-
vention will be held not later than
thirty days prior to election. Candi-
dates for thirty-five senatorships are
also to be chosen.
Before midsummer much water will
have gone over the political dam. and
incumbents who contemplate renomi-
nation will have had opportunity to
make their records. The coal strike
will either have won or failed by
midsummer. 1t is thought, and it's
effects upon politics can be gauged-
Washington conference should be out
of the way, the tariff bill approaching
completion by the dog days and busi-
ness revival either registering or fal-
tering.
Politicians do not seem to be very
much interested in the bye-election in
Maine this week as an index reliable
at least of the tendency of the times:
Both political camps by line OF
special pleading. were able to draw
comfort. or to profess to do 30. out
of the Maine result. Their conten-
tions would sound plausible. accord
ing to political conviction-one pays
his money and takes his choice.
Backward Political Spring.
Political observers and writer's who
have essayed to sound out" the po-
litical sentiment of the country re-
port nothing but very fluid state OF
opinion, which is not yet crystallizing;
it seems to be a backward political
spring.
Some of the old timer politicians in
Congress think this condition may
continue for some time and that the
tendency of political thought may not
take a decided drift until late in the
summer. Even then. 1t is held. there
is such an apparent state OF uncer-
thinty and restlessness that some
striking event in the heat of the fall
campaign might serve to entirely d.
vert its course.
Absence of old political line-ups
and the undoubted existence of indie
gree cause the politicians more anx-
iety than anything else. They fear
that these conditions throw down the
bars to most any kind Of an unwel-
come surprise at the polls in Novem-
Der.
Worried Over Differences.
One source of worry to the repub-
lican political managers is the assert
ed differences Of opinion between the
House and the President on several
important questions. This, too, in
spite of the expectation. 1t is said, on
the part of republicans In Congress to
hitch their chariots. to the presiden-
tial star and take advantage of the
administration's prestige. which Is ad-
mitted to be not below par.
There Is the bonus bill. for instance.
over which there Is distinct cleavage
of opinion between the House and the
President, both sides at this time
standing pat for their respective con-
tehtions There is the difference over
the Army and Navy appropriations.
the House proposing a program of re-
duction which Is deplored by the ex-
ecutive on account of its drastic char
acter, and with respect to the Navy,
its international effect.
Democratic political managers are
hopeful that out of these differences
in the majority party will arise con-
fitions which will inure to their ad-
vantage. and that is about as far az
thew 20, They are also praying that
the EFFORTS of President Harding ano
other national leaders Of the party to
compose the differences may prove
futile.