Evening star., 1923-10-10
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER

ferences with republican leaders IN
some twenty states, has issued sum
married. statement upon the condition
of politics, and especially republican
prospects for 1924. His view Is that
the pivotal states cannot be carried
next year by wild" candidate or
on a wild platform. lie finds the
position of the republican party much
improved since Congress adjourned
last March and has received the i'm
preston that President Coolidge Is
commanding strong public support
by his quiet and modest attitude and
his method of handling public busi-
ness.
i; 4 x &
The pivotal states he regards as
likely TO comprise New York, New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut.
Maryland, Illinois and Missouri. IF
there be those" says DR.. Butler, who
propose to tie up the republican
party to economic heresies and TO
acts of legislation and administration
out of harmony with American prin-
ciples and American traditions, they
may just as well understand now as
later that such a course will lead to
the loss of the presidential election
In 1924
ION the other hand, "A program of
progress and broad vision in accord
ance with tested republican princi-
pies Will lead TO almost certain vic
tory" he says, and adds. "the fight
must be made ON principle, as 1t was
in 1896. and compromise with economic
folly must be fatty refused"
DR. Butler takes a sideswipc at
the voters of the state of Washing
ton. in connection with the recent
democratic victory in the fifth con-
gressional district. 1T has been made
plain" he says. that the unexpected
result of the recent special congress
sional election in the fifth district
the attraction for the electorate of
the successful candidates promise to
secure sl.75 wheat.
That electorate would proba bly,
shudder at a proposal to have the
government similarly stabilize in
terest at per cent. or the price of
Union Pacific compon stock at 15a.
or the salaries of Washington state
school teachers at $1,000.
x X
The republican national committee
and the democratic national commit
tee are still whanging away at each
other in contention whether the
tariff does or does not help the
farmer. The republicans claim that
it does; the democrats. the contrary.
The democratic policy is to continue
to insist that Americas failure To
intervene in Europe is responsible
for the decreasing export trade, while
the republicans maintain that export
trade is satisfactory. The casual
reader is likely to find hlmelf all
balled up with the conflicting claims
and counter charges.
The latest emanation from the
democratic national committee on the
subject says: While President Cool
idge and members of his cabinet are
cropping in the dark for means of re-
lieving the misery Of the American
farmers. it is regarded as wonder
that Secretary of Agriculture Wall
lace doesn't throw light on the sub
ject by reading from the two reports
made to him by committee of lead
ing economists and statisticians.
whom he summoned to advise him
last spring and last summer.
= :: =
These experts" the democratic
statement goes on to assert. not
only foretold the continuance and
aggravation of the agricultural de-
preston. which has bankrupted
thousands OF American farmers. but
they also enumerated it's causes. II
is OF the most vital interest to Amer
lean agriculture that the United
States lend aid ain every way possible
to the settlement of the reparation
and other European problems. said
these eighteen economists in the re-
port they made to Secretary Wallace
last April. following study of do
mestic and foreign conditions. Speak
ing of Europe's purchasing power
American farmers and particularly
producers of wheat, these economists
said in their report: 'Europe's pur-
chasing power will depend upon the
volume of her exports. the amount
of her earnings on her investments
abroad. on shipping and other serv-
ices. and upon credit extended to her
export and import account.
"'Unless the Ruhr is speedily
cleaned up and a definite turn for
the better taxes place. III
is highly probable that Europe Will
have less buying power in our mar
kets during the next crop year than
she had during the last.
X = =
The democratic statement goes on
to say that while the republican
tariff has been effectua! in stimu-
lating the prices of agricultural
products in the United States. 1t has
been a barrier to the import of Euro
pean goods which could be exchanged
! for the produce of American farms.
The economists who advised Secre-
tary Wallace also realized the rela-
ton between peace, order and stabil-
ity in Europe and the American
farmers prosperity. The republican
administration also may have under
stood this relation. but If it has there
has been no outward sign of such
understanding.
= = x +
The democratic national committee
plays up" statement credited to
the editor of one of the most prom
inent agricultural publications. al
leging that THE American farmer
pays every year an extra s426, ,00G. 900
on the things he buys because of
the tariff. so he is really out of
pocket 1901 900. 0.000-actual. hard. 69-
cent dollars-by reason of the tariff
which Fordney- -McCumber ct al. said
would help him SO much
4 K X !;
The purpose in repeating these
committee allegations, of course. is
to show along what lines the two
campaign organizations are getting
ready to go into next years battle,
| The reader is left to his own analy-
sis and Judgment of their respective
merits.