Evening star., 1923-02-28
Politics at Large
BY N. o. laEssENGER.

Interest increases week by week in
the gossip and speculation abo1t pos.
sible candidates for the democratic
nomination. for the presidsney-this,
too, despite the counsel Of some OF
the elder statesmen Of the party to
harp softly on that string at this
time. The harpists continue to
twang. 1t Is true that the sagss did
have their way At Detroit when they
succeeded in squelching proposed IN
dorsement of Henry Ford's candidacy
by the democratic state convention.
1t would have been rather rough on
Senator Owen Of Oklahoma, who was
dressed it. had they sprung the Ford
boom right under his nose by tying
up the Michigan democrats for Mr.
Ford year in advance of the regular
boom season. Senator Owen. of
course, had nothing to say about his
possible candidacy, but had a good
deal to say about democratic policies.
IL any one had in mind the likelihood
of his becoming a candidate for the
presidential nomination, he gave a
pretty, good inventory of his stock of
policies for the democratic party to
support.
X X X X
Senator Owen is strong for making
1t easier to amend the Constitution.
He would have it possible to. submit
a proposed amendment by a majority
of the two houses. or by two-thirds
vote of either house, and made effec-
tive by a majority vote of the con-
gressional districts through a ma
1ority OF the voters in each district.
He would expand the Federal Trade
Commission; take the prosecution OF
the trusts away from the Department
of Justice, vest 1t in that commission
and require all interstate corpora
tions dealing in the -necessaries of life
to take out federal licenses that will
assure their obedience to law.
He Is for the league of nations;
for federal control Of stock and COM
modify exchanges; revaluation of
railroads. telephone and telegraph
companies as a basis for rate regu-
lation; for national and state systems
of cooperative marketing and ware
housing; for one term of six years for
the President of the United States.
He contends that 1.-The democrats of
America should now help to make
their country the moral and spiritual
leader of all mankind"
Uncle Joe" Cannon, who retires
from public life March 4, will by the
time that day arrives have a record
OF more farewell dinners than PATTI
had farewell appearances" Come to
think Of it, they began last winter,
the writer recalling a number. This
winter they have strung along ever
T.
and for the past month have been
going strong. Uncle Joe" must know
himself pretty well by this time, after
listening to the reiterated recital of
his virtues, and be either all puffed
up with vanity or wondering If it is
all true
The people of his own home town
Danville. Ill, are preparing a great
reception for him on his return, and
intent upon making 1t a state affair
wide to make his homecoming a rous-
ing and vociferous occasion.
Senator Oscar Underwood, whose
possible prospective candidacy for the
democratic nomination for the presI-
dency was noted in this column last
week, has given what is regarded as
unmistakable evidence that "Barkis is
willin'." The Alabama legislature
adopted a resolution urging that Mr.
Underwood permit his name to 60
before. the democratic national con.
vention as candidate for the presi-
Dental nomination.
II am going away when Congress
adjourns for a few months rest" he
wrote to a friend, commenting upon
the action of the legislature. when
=
! thorough consideration to the friendly
! suggestions that are being made ir
reference to the advisability of my
entering the fight for the presidential
| nomination of our party"
/ X x X \
Politicians Of both parties are won
dering whether the farmers will con-
stitute themselves into a political bloc
| in the next campaign and align them
| selves with whichever of the old
parties holds out to them the mos,
glittering prospects in its national
platform: whether they will attemp,
to put up candidates of their own In
| the congressional contest or rally
around candidates, irrespective OF
party affiliation, who will offer them
| the best-sourding bid for their sup
port. The Non Partisan League is re-
ported to be increasing in strength
| in western states where hitherto II
sn NaS 9Ss Sst SO s,1HnE sssms sx
republican candidates will have hard
shedding with that organization in
| some states.
X * * X
Speculation upon these points may
| be influenced by the action of Con-
/ gress this week. The whole session
has dragged along to the present hour
without Congress having enacted the
relief legislation proposed for the
farmers by their friends in Congress
Only a few days remain in which to
put legislation to final enactment and
make good on the promises given the
farmers in the last campaign. 1t is
said at the Capitol that Legislation
of a kind will surely be enacted, bu,
| many senators and representatives
are on the anxious bench, and will
be until the President signs q bill.
X \ X \
! 1t is noted by politicians that an
lattack all along the line is being made
by the wet forces against the alleged
methods used by the Anti-Saloon
League in securing state and national
| prohibition legislation, and especially
as to the collection and distribution
| of funds. In New York state in par
| ticular the course of the heads OF
that organization in the raising and
| dispensing Of moneys is under court
| scrutiny at this time.
It seems apparent that. the, "wets'