The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-03
REAL ISSUES ARE
STILL LACKING IN
CAMP A|GN Of 1924
Leaders Of Both Parties Puz-
zled BY Apathy Of
People
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
deased Wire to The Age-Hera1d.|


WASHINGTON. June 2.-Poli-
ticians of both parties are puzzled at
the dearth of real political issues
for the coming presidential cam
paign. 1t is an unprecedented sit
uation when one recalls the League
of Nations issue four years ago, the
preparedness fight OF Wilson's sec
ond campaign and tAe progressive
program of 1919. a dozen politicians
have been out in the country in the
last few months and none has dis
covered real issue gripping public
attention. There is complete apathy
over the world court despite the
tempest the proposal has caused
among professional politicians.
Minnesota affords a good example
of this general indifference. pri-
mary contest is on for the vacancy
created by the death of United
States Senator Knute Nelson. Farm
er-laborites are conceded an even
chance or better to win. Admins
tration forces will throw heavy sups
port into the state to carry the re-
publican nominee through. Every
factor in the situation favors hot
old-tme political fight. Yet the frst
meetings have been flops. Only 200
attenQeQ Ine opening u Tie ldi ihSi
labor party's campaign at New U!m,
which is the stronghold of the In
dependents.
Democrats Have Not Started.
Democrats have not even started
their campaign meetings. Republi-
cans are having scanty attendance
at their rallies. Heat and the fact
that this is the farmers busy sea-
son are given as reasons. But the
real reason lies in the peculiar po-
litical apathy of the country.
Many pressing national prob
lens. domestic and international, are
unsettled. yet Congress goes away
for nine months vacation ana
never is missed.
Many politicians say there Is no
real line of division between me
this situation demands a new re-
alignment along progressive onser-
xatiye lines The political dlffer-
ences between the LaFollette- Borah-
Johnson group and the Harding
Hughes group are greater than
those separating the democratic anu
republican parties.
Democrats Favor Court.
Democrats are fairly united in
supporting the Harding world court
plan which has split the republican
occasional criticism of the Fordney-
McCumber tariff act, but the 1act
that imports have increased ire
mendously under it cuts the ground
from under critics of Its hlsh
protective features. Everybody says
the railroads are in a terrible mess,
vet McAdoo, who will soon announce
his candidacy and who wants to
make his campaign for the presidency
on the railroad issue, can't find any
clue as to how public sentiment is
going to crystalize on government
planning, but all who possess any
knowledge Of finance believe the
government has extended its credits
machinery to the farmers as much
as is safe.
Progressives demand reductions in
the lower income tax schedules ana
| increased taxes for the rich. Here.
is one question which may develop
into a real issue. Another Is the
movement to limit the power of the
supreme court Many are dissatis-
fled with the power of the court,
which by five to four decision can
overturn for all time an act of Con-
gress-many laws, notably the mini
mum wage and child labor laws,
which are declarations of public
policy, have been SO overturned by
the court.
o o o
Limitations Find Favor.
The movement for constitutional
amendment giving Congress power
to re-enact by a two-thirds majority,
any statute invalidated by the su-
preme court, is finding more favor
daily The two-thirds provisions
| gives an additional check and insures
| that only policies which have the
overwhelming support Of the two
houses may be enacted over the ad-
verse action of highest court.
Prohibition could be made an Issue
| If the democrats could agree to come
| out on the wet side of the question.
But the national leaders of the party
are against this. They are willing
to allow local candidates in wet
states to be as damp as they wish.
But the party, nationally speaking,
cannot afford to be wet.
Old time politicians of the two
major parties see one advantage to
this situation, so long as no over
shadowing issue develops, the vari-
Gus insurgent groups are not likely
to crystalline into a third party of
national proportions. Divide and
rule is the principle which the old
party leaders-republican and demo-
cratic-hope to employ to their ad-
vantage in the campaign now COM
ing to life.
cADn AnnDECcEc DACTnRC