The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-01-31
PREPARING FOR
BATTLE Of. 1924
CHIEFS or THE BIG PARTIES
GETTING OUT AMMUNITION
FOR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN.
EUROPEAN ISSUES TO FORE
Republicans Look to Harding to Help
Restore Economic Stability Abroad
n Democrats Say Rivals Are Steal
ing Their Capital.
q. CLARK

Observation-Disclosures has been a re-
awakening in the Geld of national poll
tics in Washington. Preparations are
being made by the chieftains of each
party for a big drive one year and
FIVE months hence. Each party is Sc
ilecting such ammunition as 1t has at
hand at this early date to be used
by the batteries in the battle of 1924.
There were irumors current recently
that John L. Adams, chairman of the
Republican national committee, in
tended to resign his office. Denial
has com of any such intention. and
IL o seems virtually assured Mr..
Adams will be On the job when the
Republican convention opens its doors
In 1924. After that the nominee of
the party will hive the right to sug-
gest who shall conduct the campaign.
Cordell Hull, chairman of the Demo
cratic national committee, is having a
work-a-day time of it in Washington.
His office is busy with the work of
forwarding the interests of his party.
The Republican national committee Of
fees likewise are the scene of. activity.
In Republican party circles outside
of congress belief is expressed today
that if President Harding succeeds in
securing sanction for some policy of
mild Intervention in Europe which
shall result in the restoration of eco
nornic stability he Will have done the
thing which probably will secure for
him beyond question the denomination
for the presidency. No candidate for
the Republican nomination thus far
has doomed in the field as a probable
opponent to President Harding, but
there are some months left which
earnest seekers may utilize to the
work of perfecting the flower of am
bition.
No Democratic Candidate Yet.
The Democrats have no candidate,
which means simply that they have
many candidates, all of them as yet
merely receptive, but by next autumn
it is expected banners will be dis
played outside of the windows of sew
eral Office buildings in this town, each
banner bearing the name of some Dem
| O1iot il
The Democrats here say that the
Republicans must perforce nominate
President Harding, but that Democracy
Is better off because 1t does not have
10 nominate any as yet specified indi-
vidual. The Republicans who are ia
vorable to the administration already
declare President Harding has won his
riuhf tn Qnnpaination unds that IL sn
better to have a man who has won
in advance than to be compelled to
enter into a lottery with only a chance
of pulling out a prize.
1t is unquestionably true that thus
far President Harding has not secured
all the legislation from q Republican
congress which he has desired. The
campaign issues have crystalized there
will be a record of accomplishments
by congress as well as the White
House. The Republicans look for com
piete harmony even though today fac
| tionalism in congress is apparent.
European Issues Remain.
In response to the claim of Repub-
licans that if President Harding shall
| succeed in doing something to restore
economic stability in the world he will
have won his denomination, the Demo
Gratis say that many months ago their
party suggested something which
would have prevented economic insta-
.bility everywhere, and that therefore
the Republicans are only borrowing
capital on which to get rewards. In
fact, the Democrats put it that the
Republicans have been stealing their
capital.
1t is an interesting thing that the
next campaign for the presidency may
be fought on European issues, just as
in a great measure the last campaign
was fought on those issues. The Re
publicans admit that things have
changed somewhat from the year 1920
and that the swing away from their
opponents will not be as marked in
1924 as it was four years earlier, but
they add that with actual harmony
in Europe produced is a result
of Republican endeavor, any plea for
a return to the League of Nations
idea will be repudiated by the people.
The Democrats are not so sure
about this, but of course they have In
their ranks some men who are op-
posed to the League of, Nations. The
belief, however, of many of the Demo-
cratic leaders seems to be that since
trouble on trouble has been piled up
Ia Europe, the masses of Democrats
who once opposed entrance into the
league are today inclined to member
ship. Whatever may come out of it.
it seems almost certain that Europe
will cut a large figure in American pol
itics in the next 10 months.
To Adjust Party Troubles.
The Republicans In the lower house
Of congress realize that with the great
iy reduced majority by which they will
control there may be trouble in effect
ing the majority organization. There
fore the Republican leaders have de-
termined to call a meeting of all the
Republican members elected to the