The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-24
REPt)BLICANSN eoggaR!E!:ss'' BE E, DeA .ority Strength It anticipates Defeat
 In All Contests DESPAIR FORECASTS
 ELECTION DEFEAT Garrett Terms Party A Corre- lation Of Discordant
 Elements
wAaufNoroM HUREAU,

(WASNlNeTON HUREAU)
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The re- publican party in the House and Sem ate has lost its morale ot such extent that 1t is completely demoralised.
 Despite its majority strength. it enters each contest fully aware that 1t will emerge defeated. It does not fight with historic spirit. It prostrates it. self to take its beatings.
 This unparalleled condition has af. fscted the highest and lowest. Even the President of the United States, in obedience to the psychology of the time, has done what he would have avoided. Administrative leaders in both branches bear ready apologies on their faces, and yield to pressure without resistance.
 The loss of spirit forecasts the loss of the forthcoming election in the opin- ion of practically all observers. The republicans seem aware that they have coming to them an overwhelming de- feat and repudiation.
 Correlation Of Discordant Elements
 The republican party, according to Representative Finis Garrett, demo- cratic leader of the House, is not a party but "a correlation of discordant, dissatisfied clements" "
 That assertion was proved during tho fight in the committee of the whole Houss over the tax bill. The repub- Hcana were quiet and distressed, ap- parently hacked. The democrats were buoyant, aggressive, full of zeal and determined tion, cheering, fighting.
 They carried the day overwhelm- insIy.
 In the Senate, the chairman of the committee investigating the oil scandal. Senator Irving Lenreot of Wisconsin is mere figurehead. He supinely takes his orders from Senator Thomas !. Walsh of. Montana. He makes no move without consulting that democrat who is given credit for the entire dis closure. Apparently, he would avoid every semblance of what might be con- strued as an effort to cover up." He and his colleagues and even the Presi- dent are obviously afraid of their shadows.
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 CancolIing Of LAase Is Ipdictment
 The hitterest pin the republicans, from the President down. had to swal- low, wac the resoiutien instrueting tho Rresidepf to capeeI the oil lease com tracts beeai,ze tii the words of the resolution, they had been made in fraud and corruption and against the settled policy ef the governments.
 That was an indictment of the late President Harding and his entire cab. inet, the entire administration, inelud. ink the then vice president, Mir. Cool idee.
 Republicans in the Senate wiggled and squirmed and attempted to change the verbiage. But when their every effort was beaten, they voted for the resolution unanimously. They were unwilling but very much afraid. That some voted with a mental reservation, and that the resolution was signed by the President with mental reserya. tion,. has since been proved true. 2 Senator Edge has frequently refer red to statement made by him that while be would support the resolution, be did not concur in some of the "whereases." And the Prseident, in signing, said something to the same ef- fct. But Edge voted for the resolution
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