The Washington times., 1923-09-24

Tariff May Check Underwood
and Other Policies, McAdoo
and Governor Smith.
BIZ WILLIAM HARD.


With the Coolidge Administra-
ton fairly well settled into place
behind its Notifications, and with
Democratic scouts returning to
Washington in considerable num-
bers with reports of the lay of
the land throughout the country,
it now becomes possible to forsee
and to outline the nature of the
drive which the Democratic party
will make against the Republi-
cans in preparation for the Presi-
Dental campaign of next year.
Drive On Four Lines.
The drive is being conducted from
four main angles. First is the
tariff. Second is foreign policy.
Third is local self-government and
personal liberty. Fourth is rail-
road labor
four depends finally in some de-
gree upon the relative strength
shown by various Presidential can
dates in Sthe Democratic National
convention.
The candidate most identified with
the tariff issue is Oscar Under
wood of Alabama. The issue of
foreign Nflicy is diligently pro-
NOTED by Underwood, William G.
McAdoo, Of California and by Sam
uel J. Ralston, of Indiana
Local self-government and per-
gonal liberty are brought to the
'front.' principally by the candidacy
OF Al Smith Of New York. Rail-
roads and railroad labor constitute
an issue attached especially to the
record and temperament of Mr.. Nc
If these facts are thoughtfully
considered it will be seen that there
IS certain strong technical reason
why Mr.. Ralston is at this time the
favorite Democratic candidate of
many gentlemen who like to make
bets on political futures.
MIR. Underwood, besides coming
from the South, is identified with
an issue which causes much acute
alarm In many quarters, Mr.. I'm
derwood. as member of the
House OF Representatives. contriyed
. tariff bill about which the fol-
lowing statement may be absolute
ly accurately made.
Il was the first and only tariff
PHI SWhich in the last sixty-ffye
years has ever gone from the Con-
gress to the White House bearing
with 1t for Presidential signature
an actual genuine substantial re-
duction of tariff duties.
Mr.. Underwood made, an honest
Democratic tariff An honest
Democratic tariff, however, Is pre-
cisely the prospect which would
pour large funds into the Golfers of
the Republican party from numer-
Gus manufacturers. Mr.. Under
wood is a conservative person in
almost all respects, but in this mat
ter of the tariff he is thought by
many of our highly protected in
dustries to be dangerously pro-
grsssive.''
To nominate hint is argued
by tinid Democrats-wouId De to
give too much of a sharp cJge to
the tariff issue
Tariff Central Issue.
That issue, it is generally admitted.
will, be the Democratic central issue.
Many politicians, however, prefer TO
have even their central issue shaped
more like pillow than like a razor.
They have more stomach for pillow
fights than for stabbing ARRAYS.
They accordingly want to attack the
Republicans on the subject Of the
tariff, but they do not want to do
Il with Mr.. Underwood.
They want to do it with somebody
whose record on the tariff is not 50
famous. Such candidate would be
Mr.. Ralston. AS governor of In.
: diana, Mr.. Ralston naturally did no.
ruin the country-or rescue and save
tt-with any tariff bills.
A somewhat similar analysis is