Evening star., 1923-01-24
Politics at Large
ny ~. o. MESSENGER.

Upon what issues will the cam
paign OF next year be waged by tho
two old parties? Is there Likelihood
of another party of material proper
tions being created7
These two questions are propounded
and discussed by the politicians from
time to time around the Capitol and
by the visitors from out of town VINO
drop into political headquarters here.
The weight of opinion Is found to IN
cline to a negative answer to the
second question. on the ground that
the platforms OF the two major po-
litical organizations will be so ND
eraI that there will be nothing ie1t
for recommendation to the voters
other than an appeal to downright
radicalism. and 1t is not thought tnat
there Is enough sentiment IN the
country 10 support q radical party OF
sufficient strength to menace the o!o
It is contended that no such situ-
alton prevails in the country as ex.
listed In 1912 which produced the pun
moose party in the republican ranks.
q. o. P. a distinct faction to be class.
ed as "standpat" or "old guard, !,
They are all progressives when IL
comes TO going on record. The stand. .
patters of yore may not have cnansso
their spots any more than the traa,t nt
tionaI leopard. but they are not
haunting them. The rampant pro
gressives of yesteryear have no neeo
to threaten bolt and revolution, Ior
there is nothing to bolt from. Inc
party's profession Of policies In leg's-
iation and declarations by the aa.
- vnI0
exacting short of downright noisne
visits. There are some OF this TYPE
in both parties, for that matter, out
not enough to make a dent in erner
Il they should want to walk out.
Il
So no specter of a third party OF
notential size is stalking the land
at this time. There will be socialist
labor organizations and perhaps otner
small groups marching under this or
that banner, but they will be but as
suerrillas hanging on the hanks OF
the two big armies. the democrats
and the republicans. as they sweep
into battle. They will absorb tne
small percentage of discontenteu ano
radical elements of the two main po-
Iitical parties and will be speedsd On
dance.
It is generally conceded that the
democrats bid fair to frame a more
shall II be said-radical platform
than the republicans. That misnt
seem to foreshadow the loss OF ultra
conservative democrats who would go
over to the republicans in protest
except for the fact that democrats
are not so prone to leave their party
as republicans have shown them
selves in the past to be. Moreover
democrats of all shades OF opinion
are now flushed with the hope aho
encouraged by the prospect OF VIC
tory in 1924. They are still smar.
ing under the sting OF the unmessiu, i.,ss ~
thrashing the democracy received IN
1920. The trend Of the last elections
away from the republican party
really agreeab bly, surprised them. Inc
change was greater than they NAG
reason to hope for in the SHADOW Oh
the seven million republican ma 10
jority. 1t Is regarded as prooapie.
therefore. by the political sharps that
the most conservative democrats Will
he inclined to swallow more radical-
ism than would ordinarily sit easily
on the political stomach In the pros
meet for rolling the republicans down
hill and over the precipfce. new
York's elections last November ex-
emnIiied this disposition. There
were loud protests against the raoI-
cal platform of the democrats lluh'
oId-line democrats up and down tne
state But come election Gay anu
with the amazing increase In the OUT
look for democratic victory ana
winning back the state. the ola,
liners pulped down their resentment
and marched valiantiy to the polls 10
support the ticket and the PLATFORM.
Seeing what they accomplished with
their promises to the voters. the New
York democrats are now intent upon
making good on their campaign
pledges and enacting the legislation
proposed in their platform. Reports
coming to Washington of conditions
in other states are that the de-
mocracy everywhere is inclined to
follow the suit of the New York
democrats and make their national
and state platforms next year with as
near an approach to a blue-sKy limit
of liberal recommendations as safety
will warrant.
Discussing the first question pro-
pounded-what issues will be sharply
drawn between the democratic and
republican parties?-the politicians
generally believe that, outside of as
sertions of superior progressivism.
the tariff and the extent of partici-
patton in European affairs will fur
nish the sharpest divisions between
the two parties. Over the tarin 0oth
parties will assert their difference
with emphasis and with equal conf
denee in that difference bringing VIC
tory to their respective banners. The
effects of the new tariff will have
been evidenced by the time the cam
paign opens with a year of actual
operation. They will be shown in
customs receipts, in either expansion
or contracting of manufacturing In
dustry and in employment.
Another issue will be the extent to
which the democrats may go in sup
porting government, state and mu-
nicipal ownership. 1t is morally GER
tain they will go further than the
republicans.
X n
There is every expectation that
tremendous effort will be made to
commit the democratic party in its
national platform to support of the
league of nations and to participation