The Washington herald., 1922-01-08
By MARK SULLIVAN.


In that capitalization of atten-
tion upon the coming Senatorial.
and Congressional primaries,
topic uppermost among those who
follow national politics closely.
there Is one ever-present question.
1t Is, "wil Beveridge really rum"
The Indiana former Senator's move
ments are followed with the most
wstchful care and his nghtest
words are examined minutely for
light as to his intentions.
The question must soon be an
swered, for the Indiana primaries
come on May 2. So far Beveridge
has not committed himself. but his
motions look increasingly. and, to
the old organization Republicans,
menacingly, like those of a man
who will soon come out as candi-
date. He is travelling about In
diana. making addresses on John
Marshall to county bar associations.
and on other subjects to schools
and churches. Meantime an ener-
getic correspondence is going on
among his friends, looking to peti-
tions and the other features Of an
organized campaign.
The sitting Senator. who will
seek reelection, is Harry s. New.
II Beveridge doesn't run New viii
be renominated without serious op-
position. Everybody takes II for
granted that. barring Beveridge, no
one can make any sort of night
against New. But IL Beveridge en-
ters the race there will be tight
that will not only stir Indiana TO
the grass roots. but will engage
intent national attention. New Is
an organization Republican. He Is
that not only in Indiana. but
within the party in the nation. In
a contest with Beveridge he would
have the support of nine-tenths of
the Indiana Republican organiza-
tion.
New Close to Harding,
How far the national organiza-
ton or the administration would
go toward taking an open part In
News behalf would probably be
limited only by dictates Of prudence.
But that he would have the good
wishes OF the national organization
and the administration admits OF
no doubt. Everybody in Washing
ton knows that Harding not only
wanted New in his Cabinet. but also
that in an intimate and personal
way New is very close to the
White House That this fact will
weigh much in his favor with de-
pendable party men among the
Republican voters Of Indiana goes
without saying. In Indiana, as
throughout the country. Harding Is
strong not only with his own party.
but with the voters generally. That
sort of popularity. as every poltti-
clan knows, and as has occasionally
been demonstrated In the cases OF
other Presidents. is as fickle as the
favor Of the gods; but there Is not
now in sight any probability OF
change in sentiment about Harding
such as would help Beveridge IL he
should be running next May in the
role of an opponent to an admins
tration favorite.
lust what issues will be raised
~ Beyeridge should run Is not yet
clear. He could hardly hope for
success unless he should be able to
dramatize the fight in such a way
a. to make himself the beneficiary
of whatever discomfort may now
exist or may later arise with the
present record OF the Republican
senate and Of New. personally. as
one Of the responsible leaders of 1t.
So far as Beveridge in his speeches
has raised any definite issues up to
date, he has given voice to criticism
of the new tax bill and to advocacy
of a soldiers bonus.
1t is undoubtedly true that In In
diana. as elsewhere, there Is for
midable dissatisfaction with the
new tax bill. 1t is also true that
New, as a loyal party man, and as
one of the Republican Senate lead
ers. voted for the bill and must
be held responsible for it. But II
Senator New is resourceful enough.
or fortunate enough, TO be able to
make the more minute aspects OF
his record convincing to the voters,
he can point out that he voted In
favor of the unsuccessful efforts
made in the Senate to amend the
tax bill in just those particulars
which compose the bulk of Bever-
Idpe's criticisms. New voted for the
rrnea1 Of the high surtaxes, for
dating back the repeal of the excess
nrohts tax to 1921 and for the sales
t,x UnhappiIy for Senator New.
bovever as a matter of practical
roIItics. the voter. in the simple
form To which the electorate usual
" reduces issues, Is likely to focus
attention on the main vote on the
hill as a whole, and to ignore the
votes on unsuccessful amendments.
Protected on Bonus.
A, to the other issue Beveridge
Ia -ais.d II is true that
New voted against the soldiers bo-
nus. but in doing so he protected
himself in such degree as he could
hy making a speech in which ne
said he would favor the bonus
whenever the Treasury could stand
il. Also, New may be helped by the
now apparent fact that the Repuo-
Iicans are going to pass a bonus
bill this year. although they wiz
need to hurry IL IL II is to be in
time to help New in the May pri-
maries-
Incidentally. these same issues are
the ones which will figure generally
in the considerable number of States
in which during the next few months
organization Republican Senator'S
running for denomination will be
opposed by new men.
In Beveridge's case ne will be
able to rely. in addition to what
ever discomfort there is with the
record of the present Republican
Senate, on much wider and deeper
factors. Beveridge. in any way one
views him. is most distinguished
public man. However strongly fac
tions and individuals may feel an