Evening star., 1923-02-14
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.


IN influencing the selection of 4 the
democratic candidate for the presi-
dency next year and in the shaping
of the party's policies and platform.
1t Is said that while Mr.. Wilson'S
physical condition would utterly pre-
clude the thought of himself as a
possible candidate for the nomination
his mind Is as clear as before he was
stricken; that his love for and 10y
atty to his party are as sincere and
fervent as ever. and that he Is willing
to expend every effort to further the
success of the democracy.
IT Is said that in the campaign last
rail- Mr. Wilson predicted with won
oerrul accuracy the result Of the elec-
tions and that at this time he is fore
presidential and congressional elec-
tions Of 1924.
Xxx ~
The statement is also made a he
Capitol that, contrary to generally
accepted supposition. Mr.. Wilson is
not backing the fortunes of Mr.. Cox
OF Ohio, but, in fact, regards the
handicap of the 1920 defeat as likely
10 outweigh his renewed advocacy OF
the league of nations in his avail
aplllty as a presidential candidate
for 1924.
When the poet in that beloved Irish
song, THE Wearing of the Green"
described Ireland as 'tthe most dis
tressful country that you have ever
seen," he overlooked Indiana-that is.
II he had politics in mind. And re-
publican politics, particularly; for at
TINS time the republican party in the
tiooSier state Is in a condition of fac
.lonal turmoil SURPRISING the recol-
tection n OF the Oldest inhabitants. And
lnat is saying a W-h-o-l-e lot"
10 be sure, they are not hanging
men ana women for the wearing OF
the green, but they are slashing right
ahu lett among themselves for the
wearing of the oolors of Senator
Eiarry 8; New. Senator James E. Wat
Beyeridge: 1t is a three-cornered
hght and it is bloody. At the present
time Senator New may be said to be
sunerlng the fate of the innocent by
SANDER. He is a conspicuous exam
pie OF the victim of the sings and
arrows or outrageous political in
gratitude, which many a man has suf
tered before, but his is a notable case.
II ne is appointed to the cabinet-as
al but one of the republican mem
pels or the Indiana delegation in the
mouse 1erVently desire and hope-he
VIII leave the Watson and Beveridge
ractlons in the state still flying at
each others throats. Republican
leaders who are watching the Indiana
mlx-up from the side lines are Won
dering what new figure will arise In
the state If the Beveridge and Wat
son factions succeed in their efforts
70 destroy each other. Of course,
Mr; watson and Mr.. Beveridge dis
claim personal responsibility for the
course of the respective factionists
and their disavowai must be accepted
at Its face. The factionists are de-
scrloed as being "out of hand"
Minnesota Is described as being an
other state where there is a heap
sight of trouble on the old mans
mind"-speaking of the regular re-
publicans. No republican leader of
sapiency is inclined to predict how the
party will line up. come 1924.
Time was not long since when Min
nesota was regarded as a rock-rib bed
republican state in national cleo
tions. 1t slipped a cog last year. 1t
Is said there never was a more sur
prised man in the world than Senator
Kellogg at his defeat for re-e1ec ction
to the United States Senate. Even the
popular idol. Gov. Preus. found his
plurality cut to a mere $4,000.
The republican debacle was attrtbu-
ted to political Infection from ada
cent and neighbortng states. There
Uttered Into the republican political
soil streams from the partisan
reservoirs of North Dakota and the
socialistic impounding dams of Wis.
consin and Michigan, waters which
brought forth crop of voters pro.
testing against the old republican
party. 'Tis a sad tale; and the worst
OF 1t Is, the regulars fear that the
end Is not yet
Pennsylvania and New Jersey sup.
iply an example of two neighbol
states whose executive policies are
conflicting. In New Jersey the policy
has been declared to be acceptable
| by majority of the voters-a policy
as "wet as the Atlantic ocean," They
sylvania there is strong contention
! that a majority of the people sympa.
thize with the New Jersey vets, but
did not vote that way when they
elected Clifford Pinchot governor. So
how can one go outside the record II
deciding If the contention is correct
Gov. Pinchot has declared that NJ
Will drive every bootlegger anC
saloon out of the state.
Some wag pulled a good one the
other day. He said that all tht
good people" of New Jersey wist
they had Pinchot for their governor
while all the good fellows" of Penn
theirs. In the meantime, 1t is de
clared that in Philadelphia. Pitts
burgh, and especially in the mining
| cities of Wilkes Barre and Scranton
the good fellows" can get real
genuine. first-class pre-war beer rlgh
over the counter.
| X X X
| Senator Hiram Johnson of Califor
MIA is very much in the eye of tn,
| politicians at this time over conflict
! ing published reports of his cours,
in the next presidential campaign re
gardtng his possible candidacy for tn,
nomination.
| Some reports published in the met
ropolitan press declare with positive
ness that he will not contest the pro
posal to renominate President Hard
ing. Others state with equal fore,
of assertion that he will SHY his ha
| in the ring If the state legislatures
| of delegates to national convention
| by primaries. should in numbers sutti
cient to make a dent in the presen
system enact the legislation.
| In the meantime the senator is no
suff ering loss Of prestige while tn,
discussion RACES. He is being kept IL
| the 1imelight, which is not a bat
thing in any event. Senator johnson
! is the idol of his own state; he ha
a following in Michigan, New Jerse.
and in the south, as shown by pas
contests.
| His friends say he can be depended
upon at the psychological moment t.
make the appropriate announcement
of his attitude, and that whatever po