The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-15
THREE COURSES
 ARE NOW OPEN
 TO DEMOCRATS
Can Appeal To Liberals, Conservatives Or Strad-
 dle, Says Clapper
(By RAYMOND CLAPPER.) (Leased Wire to Age-Herald.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-Dem- ocratic leaders are turning to the onerous task of reconstructing what logically should be-but isn't, ex- cept in name-the party of the opposition.
 Actually, there is no formidable opposition to the administration party. Democratic leaders in con gress have declared no policy. The former minority leader of the sen ate, Underwood of Alabama, ana administration forces are working shoulder to shoulder to put through a Muscle Shoals measure.
 So serious is the condition within the Democratic party as result Of the second humiliating presidential defeat that Senator Ralston of Indiana has issued a statement appealing to his fel- low democrats to "pul themselves to- rether under new leadership. The party, he said, twill live, not because or many of it's present so-called leaders, but in spite of them"
 This call for house-cleanlng and the rebuilding of an aggressive opposition party is the most significant because IL comes from an old man who has no lur- tber political ambitions for himself. The old sage of the Wabash pushed away the democratic presidential nomination when it was within his grasp last sum mer. He is interested only m saving ms party from permanent coilapSe-ailu because all democrats understand ne has no axe to grind, his advice CRITICS all the more weight.
 Two Uncertain Situations
 Two uncertain situations compllcate the task of reconstruction. First, It IS uncertain vet whether the death of Samuel Gompers will result in the American labor movement taking sharp turn to the left, or whether the conservative policies of the late laDor leader are so deeply embedded Ill ms organization that they will i've a1ter him. Second, the influence Of the new national party which is in process or being born as result ot the La fol- lette movement is problematcai. but until it gathers more strength than was shown by thE Independents in the cleo tion, it will be ot vital concern 'o the democrats.
 Broadly speaking, the democrats have three courses open. They can go after the liberal and radical vote. They can compete with the republicans for the conservative vote. Or they can strad- dle.
 This last course proved unsatisfactory in the recent campaign. W hatever IS decided upon, the party is obliged to find some live appeal which Will pull better with the country generally than Coolidge's economy and common sense
 off last campaign which could compete with these two popular slogans, neither have they hit upon any application of these principles which challenges the Presidents copyright.
 Must Meet Note
 Another even more important problem is money and organization. National parties eat up money fast. Republi- cans spent over $3000,000 in the presi- dential campaign. Democrats spent S00O,000. They have note in the bank for S12O.0OO which must he paid some how. There are a handful of rich dem ocrats in New York who are the chief aides of the party. But in the long run, iob-hOlders, or those who have req sonable prospects of becoming job holders and their packers. furnish the munitions of politics. The drubbing which Cox received was regarded as an inevitable reaction from the war ad- ministration. But the pary has seldom had the opportunity it had when the national conventions met last June. By all the rules it should have won or at least run a close race.
 This defeat has unnerved the demo- crats. What the wiser leaders are look ing for now is some fresh figure. who can capture popular fancy, heal the wide breach between the Smith and Me Adoo forces, and make himself the symbol of the inarticulate wishes of the people as Coolidge has done. Unless this man can be found, there are many demo- crats who fear that their party will languish and wither until it's substance