The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-01-17
CAN'T INTERPRET
SIGNS Of TIMES
LEADERS OF BOTH BIG PARTIES
ARE VERY UNCERTAIN ABOUT
EXTREME INCONSISTENCIES.
BLOC MOVEMENT TROUBL0US
Ship Subsidy Bill Only Measure That
Sharply Differentiates Democratic
and Republican. Opinion Today-Pre-
pairing for the 1924 Campaign.
sy EDWARD 3. A

6y EDWARD 3. CLARK
Observation-Disclosures are appar-
ent today that both the Democratic
and the Republican party, the former
only in a slightly smaller degree than
the latter, are disturbed over the tax
ing of sides" In the senate and house
on present legislative matters of con-
Germ.
Speaking in a general way, 1t GEMS
that the Democrats are inclined to
boost progressiveness," but there are
Democratic leaders, some of them
closely connected in influence with the
national committee, who apparently do
not think the party will gain much If
anything by indorsing whole-heartedly
some OF the things which a campaign
of extremely progressive Republicans
and extremely progressive Democrats
are trying to accomplish in the present
congress.
This condition means that both par
ties do not know as yet just what to
make of the result Of recent elections.
They do not know whether signs of
the times are signs of something
which is to be permanent or signs of
only ar ephemeral condition. The
Democrats have conservatives in con-
gress just as the Republicans have
them. Some of the leading Democrats,
men who have a hand in the directing
of the destinies of the party in cam
paign years, seemingly are not alto
gether certain yet whether or not :
will be a wise political plan to pro-
u a blessing on the heads of
those members of their party who are
helping to lead the bloc movement in
congress and out of it.
Why the Democrats Hesitate.
Judging from written and spoken
pronouncements on the subject as they
are seer and heard in Washington il
would appear that some of the Demo
Gratis think the recent election was q
real victory for ultra-progressiye
thought, and therefore the party must
get in tune with the song which tht
forward, or the precipitant if you will
marchers are singing.
Judging from other pronouneements
and other writings coming from Dem
ocratic sources, it appears that som
Of the Democrats feel their party ha!
something to fear from giving way to-
much at present to the belief that tn,
United States suddenly has turned
radical. or progressive if you prefe
1t, and that only a party which in
dorses such progressivism or radical
ism can hope for success in 1924.
It is definitely known that there ar,
a good many Democrats in the senate
willing to vote with some of the Re
publicans in favor of Senator Norris
proposed legislation to aid the farmer.
of the country. OF course it must b
understood that the conservatives ant
the semj-conservatives, Republican,
and Democrats, seem to think the bill
is too advanced in its provisions. 1t |!
believed, however, that many Demo
Gratis would vote for the Norris bill il
it came TO a vote, not so much because
they desire that it become a law, bu'
simply and naturally SC that it SHOULD
be made a matter of trouble for thu
Republican opponents. The one thing
which Democracy seems to be com
bined upon in heart and vote is IN
antagonism TO the ship subsidy bill
This is n measure which sharply
~differentiates Republican and Demo
cratic opinion today, although, o.
course, there is quite a group of Re
publicans in the senate who. with the
Democrats. are opposed to this
measure.