Evening star., 1923-12-19
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER


throughout their recent flush of con-
fdence over political prospects for
1924 appear to be taking form and |
substance. The democrats were wont
to say to the republicans: walt until
you get through the session Of Con-
gress and find where you stand with |
the people. You are counting your
chickens before they are hatched."
There seems to be much to be said |
on that point" judging from condi-
tions. present and prospective, of the |
republicans in the House and Senate. |
In both bodies they are In the power !
Of minority faction of their own |
party and the solid democratic line
up as to all important legislation |
which the administration has in mind !
1t is prophesied by the democrats |
and the progressive republicans that |
the administration will not be able |
to get tax reduction bill through |,
the House without it's being amended |
and enlarged to such degree that 1t |
will be unacceptable to the President i
The Mellon bill as it stands. 1t is |
claimed, will not have th= ghost of a !
show.
y X
All agree that the soldier bonus bill |
will become a; law, and probably at |
an early day. 1t is to be passed over !
the Presidents veto, according, to |
present prospects.
Some of the elder statesmen in the |
House even go so far as to predict /;
that a tax reduction bill will be al !
lowed to languish and finally perish |
of inanition.
William Jennings Bryan is keeping |
in the limelight of leadership in his /
party. He lends a helping hand at !
the oar of management of party af- /,
fairs in the House and now Is seeking
TO hold the tiller of the democratic !
national convention in the naming OF
presidential candidate.
He Is quoted as saying that he has !,
in mind a candidate for the nomina-
tien who halls from the south, is a |
dry" and progressive. That news !
will interest Charles r. Murphy, boss
Smith. Likewise, may cause chill I!
to run down the spine of Tom Tag
CART of Indiana. who has plans Of his
own.
The politicians are wondering II
the Commoner has in mind the name
Of his former colleague in President
Wilson's cabinet, Josephus Daniels of
North Carolina. Secretary Daniels
was the one -'ho made the Navy
dry"
James W. Gerard Of New York has
smilingly accepted the bouquet which
the democrats OF South Dakota offer
ed him-indorsement for the demo-
cratic vice presidential nomination.
The presidential preferential prima- +,
ries in that state promise to furnish
an interesting exhibit of political
sentiment. President Coolidge's
friends have pledged his qualifying
Josnson will file as the independent
republican candidate. William G.
McAdoo has accepted the democratic
platform framed by the democratic
proposal convention.
South Dakota will be the first pres
idential preferential primary state to
express choice of candidates.
William G. McAdoo has invented a
new political phrase and clapped it
onto the republican party. Para
phrazing former President Wilson'S
expression "watchful waiting he ap-
plies the term "wistful wishing to /
the republicans. In his telegram to
state Chairman Howes of South |
platform. Mr.. McAdoo wrote:
We shall get no relief from the
burdens now depressing us nor shall
we progress in any direction through
the republican policies of standstill- +.
ism and wistful wishing for the prob
lens TO solve themselves. The demo-
cratic party stands for progress and
popular rights and welcomes the op-
yAr NrNy ~ Ia h.t
1t is evident from the expressions
of democratic leaders in Congress and
party managers that the alleged
drifting policy Of the republicans on
foreign affairs is to be made one of
the principal weapons of attack on
the republicans in the campaign Of
1924
OF course. an effort will be made by
supporters of the league of nations TO
get an expression from the national
convention supporting former Presi-
dent wilson's plan, but, whether il is
successful or not, the party managers
will hammer away at the republicans
charging them with sticking to
policy of aloofness in foreign affairs
Illinois is to be the scene of the
next developments in the Coolidge
johnson contest for the republican
presidential nomination. Fred w
Upham. treasurer of the republican
national committee, declares that
there is to be a stirring Coolidge
campaign in Illinois and that the
Presidents name will be placed on the
primaries.
Plans are progressing rapidly in
Cleveland for the republican national
convention, to meet there June 10.
The headquarters OF the national com
mittee will be located in the Holenden
Hotel, and headquarters of the Cool
idge boomers will probably be in the |
Hotel Cleveland.
The Coolidge campaign in Ohio is to |
be managed by Hoke Doniphan. an
attorney of Marion, former President
Harding's home. He is well known in
republican politics in Ohio and in a
statement has identified President
The McAdoo interests in Ohio are
to be managed by former Judge
David L. Rockwell of RaYenna. He
Is already appealing to republican
progressives to prepare to support
the democratic party, claiming 1t to
be the only real progressive party
which can deliver the goods"
The republican national committee,
in a current statement. utters q pro-
test against the solid south" 1t
complains that "the republican party
enters into every presidential cam
paign with a handicap of ia votes
before it can begin even with the
democrats in a contest for the presi-
dency. There are certain states in