The Colorado statesman., 1924-02-02
PARTY LINES ARE
MOSTLY WIPED OUT
FACTIONS sUPPLANT POLITICAL
FOUNDATIONS, TO THE
DISTRESS OF LEADERS.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

ne COh-
gress this winter resembles that In
many OF the legislative bodies of Eu-
rope. In the place of two well-outlined
political parties striving for the mas
tery, there are really six or seven
schools Of thought represented in both
houses, and each is striving for the
domination of its own economic and
Legislative ideas.
Party names this year seem to mat
ter nothing. The old lines Of demarca-
tion between the Republicans and the
Democrats for the present at least
seem largely TO have been wiped out.
States rights and to less degree pro-
lection vs.. free trade are In limbo.
There are scores of Republicans who
seem to feel legislatively just as
a score or two of Democrats feel.
Then there are some Republicans
so-called, and some Democrats. so
called, whose feelings are alike and
entirely different from those OF other
groups in all matters pertaining not
only to ultimate legislation but to the
means of securing 1t.
Efforts at leadership in both houses
and In both parties is like the attempts
at shepherdlng of the guardians of
flock of sheep of which the constitu-
ent members seem to he headstrong in
their attempts to get through the fence
on one side, to jump into the river on
a second, or possibly to tumble down
preciplce on n third, while ignoring
the side leading to the pasture of
peace, concord and presumed plenty.
Disturbing to the Leaders.
Not long ago Secretary of Commerce
Hoover wrote letter to William Allen
White touching on the danger of this
tendency to coalition in congress be-
tween the parties and parts of parties.
In his letter the secretary dwelt upon
the similarity of conditions abroad and
those In the congress of the United
States at the present time.
Mr.. Hoover Is not the only promi-
nent one in official life who has called
attention to the same thing 1t is
known that the Democratic party lead
ers outside Of congress are immensely
disturbed over the condition, fearing
that It means damage to the party.
and 1t also is known that Republican
national committeeman and others also
are anxious over the possible outcome
of the divisions in their party ranks in
house and senate.
Both Democratic and Republican
politicians who are not in congress are
asking themselves how really solid
party endeavor can be stressed In con-
nj ttrhp hn
have been not of parties, but of fac
tions within parties.
Each party organization Is anxious
TO go before the people next summer
with something constructive to present
and with record of construction, at
tempted at least, to prove that II is the
intention in the future to complete the
plan and thereby to deserve the thanks
of the voters. The Democrats have
one Legislative plan to lower taxes, the
Republicans have another and certain
factions in both parties have others
What is going to come out of it nobody
knows.
Peace Plan and the Senate.
In the senate the so-called irrecon-
cilables on international matters still
nre declaring openly that the Edward
BOX peace plan has killed all chance
that the Harding World court member
ship proposal can be enacted into law.
The irreconcllables go farther than
this and say that the plan not only
killed the World court plan, but has
put the League Of Nations, so far as
American participation therein is con-
cerned, on n mountain ledge that cam
not be reached by the most enthusi-
Hstic scaler of peaks.
Are these things that the irrecon-
cilables say true? Naturally enough
they seemingly form their opinions on
the subject of the future of the plan
from the reception which 1t has re-
ceived in partisan circles in Wash
ington. Washington is not the United
States, although congressman seem TO
take 1t for granted that the voice of
the cloakroom is the voice or the coun-
try.
referendum Is being taken on the
Box peace plan. Opponents of the
League of Nations and anything per
tanning thereto say that the referendum
will result in dust-pannlng rne plan.
However, they probably will know bet
ter after little thought. The SEEM
ingly saner thinkers here beneve that
the result of the referendum will he
approval of the plan and yet they
know that this will not and cannot
make II certain that the country en-
masse gives its approval to tne pre-
sented scheme to bring about peace.
Opponents Lose Interest.
The friends of II movement intended
TO make peace take up permanent lodg-
ing In the world are not deceivlng
themselves as to the effect of the pro-
nouncement on the present plan which
is likely to come MS the result of "A
referendum. They know. as well as