The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-29

itself. 1t is the Republican party
that has been tormented with fac
tons and that might have been
supposed to be destined to all
sorts Of troubles at the polls in
the primary elections.
In the Republican party there
have been at least three factions.
There has been the radical La
Toilette left wing. There has been
the Coolidge right wing. There
has been the halfway members
who IN large number are far in
deed from being La Follettites but
who voted for the bonus against
President Coolidge's wishes and
who, in spite of President Cool
idge's solicitations, refused to vote
for the unadulterated Mellon. taxa.
ton plan.
Large numbers Of business or
CARNATIONS throughout the colIn-
try threatened that they would
bring about the instant defeat OF
all Congressman who defied the
President and who voted for the
bonus and against the Mellon plan.
Meanwhile, radical organizations
threatened instant defeat to all
Congressman who did not vote to
re-impose the excess profits tax
and who dared raise their voices
in Congress against the Howell
Baraefey- bile which was demanded
by the railroad trade unions.
Then what happened? The tor
mented and torn and tattered Re-
publican party went to the pri-
mary elections, and the resulting
situation turned out to be as fol-
lows:.
In the House Of Representatives
there were two hundred and
twenty-five Republicans.
Five Of them died.
Twelve of them did not seek
reelection.
One hundred and ninety.five were
re.nominated.
Just nine were defeated in the
primaries.
The following observation would
then seem justified:
Rank and File Satisfied.
When a party goes to the pri-
mary elections and when just nine
Congressman belonging to it sus-
tain defeat, it surely must have
proved itself fairly satisfactory to
its rank and file throughout the
country, or else it's rank and file
are taking no dramatic intense
interest in politics and are just
simply quite we'll satisfied with
the general condition of the coun-
try and are not bothering much
II any-to try to change It.
Moreover, to confirm this last
Supposition, when one comes to
examine the cases of the Repub-
lican Congressman who were de-
feated in the primary elections, one
cannot find any national principle
which ties the defeats together and
which can give them any national
Significance or meaning.
Congressman Merrill Moores Of
Indiana, who was strict Coolidge
administration man, was defeated.
Inquiry shows, however, that he
was tangled into local issues hav.
ing to do (among other things)
with the Khan.
Congressman Isreal M. Foster of
ONO, was also defeated, and he
was known principally by his con.
spicuous work in forwarding the
anti-child-labor constitutional amend.
ment; but inquiry does not reveal
that he was defeated on any issue
of that sort.
In fact, the chief professional
Republican party managers and
observers are saying freely that
they cannot make out that really
any Of their fifteen defeated Con-
gressmen were defeated either for
being for, or for being against, any
national legislative proposition what
soever.
They succumbed--in ,fact-vir.
tually all Of thena-to local factions
and ambitions and intrigues and
personalities; and, it should be
once more remembered, there were
only fifteen Of them after all at
that!
Surely this showing does not
indicate the coming of any great
political earthquake-at least, not
OF any earthquake considerate
enough to send out any warning
tremors beforehand.
However, let us inquire further.
Copyright, 1924. by Current News
Features, Inc.)