Evening star., 1923-01-03
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

In a little more than a twelvemonth
now the country will be in the throes
of the campaign for the presidential
nominations. Selection of delegates
to the two national conventions will
begin right after the next New Year
IL ushered In, and will continue dur
ing the late winter and early spring
mouths The conventions will prob
ably be held In June. and afterward
the great contest will be on between
the two well matched old parties.
President Harding's denomination
will not be. contested, nor is 1t ex-
pected that there will be bolt by
progressive or insurgent republi-
cans. The progressive boom which
sWelled up right after the recent
elections seems to be gradually de-
Hating.
The only contingency which might
menace the denomination of President
Harding would be a combination be-
tween southern delegates and dele
gates from a few of the radical pro-
gressive states-and such a contin-
gency is so remote as to be regarded
as impossible. The southern delegates
are not likely to swap their birth
right for a mess OF progressive pot
tage-said birthright being the hold
ing of federal Offices at the disposal
of the President.
The tendency Of all but the most
radical progresSives is expected to be
to go along with the regular party
organization, for there is but scanty
allurement to practical politicians in
anything the radicals are likely to
have to offer
X X
The main consideration which will
probably engage the progressives
and all republicans is that the re-
publican party will have to fight for
its life in 1924, with the present state
OF vigor OF the democratic party.
Repetition of the upset of 1912 is
recognized as the sure penalty Of any
disintegration of republican solidar-
ity, with an indefinite spell of demo-
cratic rule ahead.
The chief aim of the elder states
men of the democratic party now and
In the future Is to keep harmony in
their own ranks and present a solid
front to the enemy. They realize that
the odds are more favorable to pow
der magazine explosions in the re-
publican party than in their own, and
that only ordinary precaution is suf-
ficient to avoid a split in the democ-
racy. while the republicans will have
to exercise extraordinary watchful-
ness.
1t is assumed that the embarrass-
mentS of the wet and dry issue will
be about equal in both parties. With
the republicans, some of their number
will complain If the party does not
squint toward the vets, with the
democrats there will be protest that
the tendency is too much toward the
vets
Republican leaders are aware Of the
efforts of some of the radicals in their
party to "bluff' President Harding
out of standing for denomination.
They say 1t cannot be done.
Charges that he is a reactionary are
refuted by his utterances on policies
and legislation. they say. Assertions
that he is weaker in the country now
TO an extent which would threaten
his reelection are proved to lack
foundation. by the reports which are
constantly received from the listen
ing stations.
The two national committees will
meet in this city next December and
issue the call for the nominating con-
veations, at the same time fixing the
representation in the conventions and
prescribing rules for the selection Of
delegates.
Then will come the scramble in the
democratic party for delegates, with
the presidential nomination in view,
and the open season for candidates
will be on. None Of the leaders at
this time foresees possibility of a split
in the party growing out Of that con-
test.
Pomerene of Ohio, Cox of the same
state, McAdoo Of California. Ralston
of Indiana, Gov. Smith of New York,
Senator Reed of Missouri and Henry
Ford of Michigan are expected to be
the principal contestants for the
democratic nomination for the pres
idency. Some dark horses" will
no doubt emerge and loom at the
proper time. 1t will cost a pretty
penny to conduct the next campaign
and the financial resources and back
ing OF candidates will be taken into
consideration.
!:
Whom will the southern democrats
favor for the nomination? AS the
south will be called upon to supply
the largest single bloc in the body
of presidential electors, that section
will expect to have say in the Sc
lection OF the candidate.
Woodrow Wilson, 1t is thought,
will be consulted by the southern
democrats as to his choice of a can
didate. He could readily name a man
or two whom he would not favor, but
may have hesitation In openly sin
Cling out an individual upon whom
to bestow his benediction.
Mr.. Wilson, 1t is said by demo-
Gratis, will not hesitate, however,
when the time comes to give ooun-
sci and advice freely upon policies
and platform. He is known to have
his heart set upon the success Of
the party at the polls in November,
1924, and will exert every effort to
keep the party from making mistakes
in policies.