The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-02-06
PARTY LINES ARE
MOSTLY #IPEDOUI
FACTIONS sUPPLANT POLITICAL
ORGANIZATIONS, TO THE
DISTRESS OF LEADERS.
BY EDWARD z. CLARK

BY EDWARD g. CLARK
Washington.-The situation In con
gress ibis winter resembles that in
many of the legislative bodies of Eu-
rope. In the place of two w~eIl-Outlined
political parties striving for the mas.
terry, there are really six or seven
schools Of thought represented in both
houses, and each is striving for the
domination of it's own economic and
legislative ideas.
Party names this year seem to mat
ter nothing. The old lines Of demarca.
ton between the Republicans and the
Democrats for the present at least
seem largely to have been wiped out.
States rights and to a 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.
Ihen 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 IL.
Efforts at leadership in both houses
and in both parties is like the attempts
al shepherding Of the guardians of a
mock of sheep Of which the constitu-
eht members seem TO be 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
q precipice on a third. while ignoring
me side leading TO the pasture of
peace, concord and presumed plenty.
Disturbing to the Leaders.
Not long ago Secretary of Commerce
Hoover wrote a 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 dwelr 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 n 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 I'VE the condition, fearing
that 1t means damage TO the party.
and II also Is known that Republican
national committeeman and others also
are anxious owe 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-
vention platforms when the endeayors
have been not of parties, but of fac
tons within parties.
Each party organization is anxious
TO 60 before the people mex summer
with s5nrEITITg CONSTRUCTIVE TO present
and with a record of construction. at
tempted at least, to prove that il 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
are declaring openly that the Edward
Box peace plan has killed all chance
the Harding World court member
ship proposal can be enacted into law.
The lrreconcilables 20 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 a mountain ledge that can-
be reached by the most enthusl-
astic 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
Washington is not the United
States, although congressman seem 10
take il for granted that the voice of
the cloakroom is the voice or the eoun-
try.
A 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-panning the plan.
However, they probably will know bet
ter after a little thought. The seem
saner thinkers here beneve that
the result of the referendum will be
approval of the plan and yet they
know that this will not and cannot
make it certain that the country en-
masse gives its approval to the pre-
scheme to bring about peace.
Opponents Lose Interest.
to make peace take up permanent lodg-
ing in the world are not deceiving
themselves as TO the effect of the pro-
nouneement on the present plan which
is likely to come as the result Of a
referendum. They know, as well as
opponents of the plan know. that the
people who are enthusiastic for any
thing are the people who respond TO
the call for voting. The opponents of.
anything touching the League Of Ma
tons. or at least those Of them who
are outside Of the circles of political