The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-02-07
PARTY
HIDES D|SsENS|ON
NOTHING FROM HEADQUARTERS
IN WASHINGTON TELLS OF THE
DIVISION ON POLICIES.
BUT MANY OF THESE EXIST
Republicans Opposed to denomination
of President Harding Working for
State Primary Leglslation-col.
House Cheers the Democrats.
BY EDWARD 9. CLARK

WaSnlngton.-Lest someone should
forget it, let it be said that in Wash,
ington we always have politics with
u.s. This is the national headquar-
ters for legislation; it is also the ma
tlonal headquarters for politics, and
frequently the wheels of the political
machinery whirl much faster than
those of the legislative.
There are plenty of inuendoes,
charges and things intended to be real
Information, emanating day by day
from he offices of the political chief
tains. There are some things, how
ever, which the spokesman and the
writer's of either headquarters keep
INTO themselves. They never put u
anything in speech or in writing which
tends to show that there is any divis-
ion whatsoever on policies within the
party ranks.
Naturally enough, no one gets any
thing from Republican headquarters
concerning the marked differences of
opinion on legislation which exist be-
tween the so-called progressives and
the so-called conservatives within the
halls of congress. Neither does any
one get from Democratic headquarters
anything concerning the differences of
opinion which exist within the party
ranks concerning such a matter, for in
stance, as the League of Nations or
SOM other means of entering into the
affairs of Europe.
1t Is perfectly true that in the ranks
OF Republicanism, as in the ranks of
Democracy, there are friends of the
League of Nations proposition, and
there are more friends of some kind of
q plan for Strengthening out the affairs
of Europe, but the divided schools of
thought are unable to exploit their
views by means of headquarters prop
uganda because doing it would disclose
the fact of the division of sentiment.
Scheme of Harding Opponents.
Just now it is known that the lead
ers of one element of Republieanism
are en~deavoring to secure from the
legislatures of six or seven states
which are in session this winter the
enactment of presidential primary. leg
islation. 1t Is said hat this attempt
Is being made by the Republicans who
are opposed to the denomination of
President Harding and that they hope.
through the. delegate strength which
they expect to get if the laws they
want shall be enacted, to be able with
the force which they can muster else
where to defeat the Presidents nomi-
nation.
Representatives of the conservative
type say that it is not at all assured
that the primaries would go the way
their brethren seem to think they
would go, and that therefore they can
look with e%quanimity upon the change
of law in the states which thus far
have not provided for primaries for
presidential delegates.
1t also should be said that Republic
an leaders in the house and senate, the
administration leaders, think that they
can iron out between now and June.
1924, such wrinkles of difference as
there may be Detw cen them and the
beloved ones who disagree with them.
and that therefore all will be harmo-
NOUS In the national convention and
that. If seemingly he shall deserve 1t,
President Harding will get his renomi-
nation without trouble.
Nursing fractional Disputes.
Democratic leaders in Washington.
while they say nothing about differ
ences in their WI party. are paying
great attention to the differences in
the party of the opposition. 1t is the
present duty and apparently the pleas
ant duty of Democratic political head
quarters to print and to distribute
matter which calls attention to the d.
vision of thought in the Republican
party, and to ~accentuate it as much as
possible. Moreover, the Democrats are
saying and writing fine things about
the Republicans in congress who SEEM
ingly stand opposed to the administra
TONS policies.
The Republican headquarters. also.
while keeping well within hiding n
suggestion of party troubles of their
own, are accentuating those which are
besetting the Democrats, and they also
are saying nice things about certain
Democratic senators who do not seem
to be in entire accord with the major
ity Democratic endeavor.
Col. E. NJ. House, who for years was
n close friend and adviser of former
President Woodrow Wilson, has come
out of semi-retirement to express n
hopeful view of the Democratic future.
He is credited with saying that the
Democrats surely can elect their nomi-
nee in 1924. provided they do not 'do
The colonel. however, couples his
prophecy of Democratic victory with n
something foolish In the meantime.n
plea for entrance into the League of
Nations. Some of the Democrats wish
he had omitted the second paragraph
of his shiningIy bright prophecy of sue
cess.
Party Publicity Ignores D~issension.
There are as yet no signs that
worry is departing from official cir