Evening star., 1924-09-24
Politics at Large
by N. o. MESSENGER

~~'" AfoASiuuoA pciit vi
the millions OF ballots have futtered
into the boxes in the voting booths
November 4. a world of political ef-
fort must be exerted in the mean.
time in campaign management and
maneuvering. Veritable floodgates OF
oratory, argument and expletive will
be opened. Some Of the biggest guns
OF the campaign are yet to lay down
their barrage, while others already
in action will continue to roar. The
country will have no difficulty in
learning what 1t is all about,
:: X x
In some political quarters it is
contended that large percentage of
the voters have already made up
their minds and that those who have
done so are not likely to be shaken
by tho coming appeals OF the cam
pAgners. That may be true as to
the ulraconservative group and the
deeply thoughtful, but it is not 70
De iost sight Of that in this campaign
there is an element OF the electorate
which is being appealed to on grounds
that arc far from conservative and
than to serious judgment.
(: = = ::
politicians say that Senator La
Folietee has tactical ADVANTAGE
over his opponents in postponing his
maj drive to such late day in the
campaign. He has made only two
addresses, the announcement of his
candidacy and tho opening OF his ac-
.oai campaign last week 1t NAV be
q week or two yet before he starts
on the big drive. That will leave
his opponents rather scant time in
which to respond to and attack his
assertions and claims. Tho country
Is likely to be thrown into a tumul,
or discussion by Senator La Follette-s
peculiar style OF campaigning. and
some Of the Republican and p,-o-
cratc leaders wish there couli he
further time in which to ,efute his
arguments and give the country op-
poftunity to analyze them.
= X X =
ihe opening statement that in six
weeks We will know the worst NAV
nave been a rash and hastv remark
1AsSuihihs that the worst" will be
on ihoecSlFe election. throwing the
choice or President into the Hons.
and possibly ultimately into Tho So
ate through the choice of a vice prssi-
oent' the worst may be yet TO come. ."
mere can be no concesling the fact
tnat many leaders In the two old mar
ues are gravely concerned over the
possibility Of the La Toilette ticket
polling such a heavy vote as to IRE
ciude either Of the candidates of the
oio parties from establishing major
ity OF the electoral college at the polls
november 4. Republican leaders are
oaslhg their hopes on an expected
.oohose landslide which will give
MIN the requisite 2s6 electoral votes
But La Toilette Is admittedly strong
In many Western States and if he can
noId out the bare number Of cleo
toral votes necessary to keep Presi-
dent Coolidge below that figure. the
election goes to Congress.
II the country wakes up on the
morning Of November 4 70 find that
Senator La Toilette has hedged Presi-
dent Coolidge or John ". Davis off
from this vital 26s the country will
race a political crisis which in all the
circumstances may prove the gravest
in political history There will b.
and perplexity in which it will be
possible to form all sorts of combi-
nations in Congress to sway the final
selection of a President This would
be certain to greatly affect business
and industry at time when the fu-
ture seems to hold more promise of
world sterilization through the set
uenent of affairs in Europe
x* =
This consideration, when once il is
fully understood by the country, is ex-
pected to have effect upon the cleo
tion favorable to the Republicans. The
growth of the La Toilette strength
carrying this menace of sending the
choice OF President to the Congress
is counted upon to have great in
fluence in swaying the voters to take
no chances" and TO make sure of hav-
ing their votes effective by casting
them for the man who seems now to
be the leading candidate. This state
ment is not disparagement OF John
". Davis prospects. 1t cannot be de-
MED that public sentiment appears at
this time to be more in President
Coolidge's favor than for the Demo
cratic candidate. Senator La Toilette
is yet to make his major appeal to
the voters, but the stronger he makes
1t and the more effective it is the
greater become the possibilities of the
selection going to Congress.
+
This is the favorite time for stra "
votes and polls. Many newspapers
are making them and they are being
gathered in places of amusement
factories, on trains and in all kinds
of places where people meet or pass
In nearly all of these polls Presiden,
Coolidge is shown as leading, Senator
La Toilette trailing him closely and
Mr.. Davis running a more or less
close third. These polls serve to
point to the existence of La Toilette
strength which if translated into
position for which he is striving 70
send the selection to Congress.
-
William c. McAdoo is scheduled to
loom prominently on the political
horizon for tho next fortnight He is
back from Europe after his defea,
by Mr.. Davis for the presidential
nomination. and all Democratic eyes
ara conferred upon him In expectA-
tion OF bis making good his promise
to render active support to the Demo
cratic national ticket He is to start
in on a speechmaking trip to the
Pacific coast right away.
The Democratic managers are count
ing heavily upon his efforts in be.
half Of the ticket. There is TO indi.
cation of any reason to doubt the
sincerity of his promise or that he
will carry it out in full measure
When it is realized that Mr. McAdoc
devoted six years to building up a
following in his aspiration to the
presidential nomination which was
frustrated by circumstances infiu-
enoed by conditions that did not
furnish a fair test on his own merits
1t can be realized what power he
may prove in tho campaign. The
Democratic managers expect him to
enthuse new life into the somewha,