New-York tribune., 1922-10-30
A Campaign Of Confusions

: 1t is hard to find parallel for
the campaign Of 1922, now enter
ing its last phase. 1t is national
in scope, for House Of Representa-
tives and more than a third of the
Senate arc to be elected. 1t has 2
bearing on the fortunes Of the ma
jor parties, for it is the midway
clash between two Presidential
contests.
But there has been an extraordi-
nary unreality about this clash. The
two parties are not fighting unitedly
this year for or against the same
things. It is as il the ghosts of
past issues had come back and then
suddenly lost their bearings. In
each saction---in each state nearly
there is different alignment. The
fight is so scattering and local in its
character that one result. is expected
IN the House and another in the
Senate. The Republicans are sure
to lose seats in the lower branch
Dut almost equally sure to gain
seats in the upper.
What is the cause of the Gerange-
ment2 Mainly, the breakdown OF
party leadership in the present Con-
gress. Action there ilas been--group
action, or clique action, rather than
party action. Both organizations
supported the bonus bill, from when
President Harding's veto alone
saved the country The Republicans
revised the tariff, without much
conviction that that was good
thing to do at this juncture. But
The Democrats offered no genuine
resistance. They could have pre-
vented passage, but lacked The fight
ing spirit to do so.
The consequence is that in some
states you can find Republican and
u 'mocratic candidates for the Sem
ate who were equally in favor Of
the bonus and of tariff revision. In
some states Republican candidates
ere running on an anti-Adfinistra-
tion platform. In other states
Democratic candidates are running
on an anti-Wilson platform In the
Republican group Of nominees are
La Toilette, France, Frazier and
Hrookhart, all radicals and in
surgents. In the Democratic erouo
are Jim Reed, Castor and Kendrick,
Just ss fragrant party heretics
II judged by the declarations Of the
last Democratic national platform.
Another issue has come in unin-
v'ted to twist party lines and to de-
nature party distinction That is the
aAtl-dfy prepossession, Officially ig-
nofed by both national parties. In
New Jersey Demeerat is running
Tor Senator on his wet record. In
Nebraska another Democrat. for
merry a conspicuous wet worker IL
Trying to get reelected by pleading
conversion to the dry cause. Both
Maryland candidates are wet. La
foliette has the support OF the wet,
IN Wisconsin. Pomerene is their IA.
vorite in Ohio, So it goes. Many seat
in the House and Senate will be wo,
and lost on an issue with whic,
neither national party is willing t,
maintain a speaking acquaintance
The state organizations have. II
fsct, taken this campaign out Of TIN
hands of the national organizations
AS national opposition the Demo
cratic party of Wilson and Cox ha,
dwindled to shadow. It is fightinf
IN different parts of the country fo,
entirely different things. So, TO 8
less degree. is the Republican party
And this diversity of view and dis
persion of interest have produced
campaign of ludicrous iaxtaposi
fions and manifold confusion.
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The E;vhf- Eo,sr nay