Milford chronicle., 1924-08-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
(By National Editorial Associat
Especial to Chronicle)

Washington, Aug 14-NOw that the candidate,
have formally accepted the nominations for tn,
Presidency and other major Offices and all doubts
to an cleyenth-hour declination of these honor,
have been completely disSipated. the contenders
politely invite the attention of the people to them
selves and the platforms of their parties. Com.
ment is to the effect that custom must be served
even with a notification rite which is nothing
more than an exchange of fluctuations.
Though the campaign is manifestly in its early
stages it is significant to note the change in tac-
tics. No longer do the leading contestants for
this great office reyile each other. NIud-snging
has had its day and happily a new program. bas-
ed the fact that it is possible to be a gentleman
and Il politician at the time is under ad-
vSemeut. 1t is true. of course, that occasionally
exceptions may be noted in some localities. In
these instances it has been stated. that the local
issues and the men involved are responsible for
discord rather than the men and matters connect
ed with the national ticket.
Nobody has ever disputed the tme-worn PROV
erb that Politics is the science of eXgencies"
Unlike the movement of the sea. it is almost i'm
possible to determine with the slightest degree of
accuracy. the tide of the elections. Travellers re
turning to Washington report that it is difficult
matter to keep finger on the publics pulse Few
can tell just what the symptoms mean. They say
that the voice of the people" as heard in smok-
ing compartments of railroad trains and the other
popular summer forum. resort hotel verandas
confines itself more to Il discussion of notorious
murder case now pending in Chicago than to the
great economic and political issues upon which
three great parties ask the voters to render de
csiOn in November. 1t may be a sad commentary
upon the people, but comparison of the space
allotted to the morbid and sensational features of
the Chicago affair will show that political news is
running a bad second in the daily race for public
attention. Leaders are frankly worried about this
indifference.
There some who profess to see in the forth |
coming investigation of the Bureau of Internal |
Revenue and the Prohibition Unit of the Treas
ury Department, a scandal which will re-establish
political matters the leading front page attrar
tion for the reading, and presumably a voting |
public. According to we-infOrmed observers
the inquiry will be staged with all the trappings |
and sense of dramatic values which made the |
Teapot Dome probe a nine-days wonder The cuI4
tain will he raised late in September by Senator
COuzens. Republican. of Michigan. He made a
gesture last spring. but illness. and strategy of
those opposing the inquiry prevented the Senator
ial inqusitiOn. The Senator, once a partner of
Henry Ford is a candidate to succeed himself
and obviously without the stamp of party ''regu-
arity," He claims that these government bur
aaus, in particular. have been mismanaged at the
expense Of taxpayers as whole. Those opposed
10 the wholesale grilling. claim that the Senator
is inspired by personal animus resulting from a
public correspondence with the present Secretary
If the Treasury. 1t has been agreed that the in
wll be undertaken prior to the cleo
ions The determination to hold another quiz
morals of those in public office may
ave been a coincidence, but, it is said suspicion
# making political capital out of the disclosures
f any. may be reasonably drawn The ultimate
fleet of the Couzens inquiry on the fortunes Of
he Republican and Democratic parties leaders
ny. is merely conjecture at this time.
The report of the Department of Agriculture.
ftcr a survey Of farm regions, shows that the
merican farmer has increased his purchasing
over and materially improved his condition in
le economic fabric of the country. According to
Irrent stories here. the continued prosperity of
le farmer will insure the reelection Of those
,ngressmen from rural districts who tinkered
ith farm legislation at the last session but pro-
lced nothing in actual relief for hard-pressed
In days of plenty it is easy to for
We and many harassed candidates for the Wash
gton representative of farming districts will
lpreciate this fact.
If the agrcultlralist voted a class, the crops
ould be political wane pointing the way in
hch the wind was blowing With evidences of
owing industrial depression, speculation today
ais with the so-called labor vote" Though La U
)llette and Wheeler were highly gratifed at the
of the American Federation of La
T. there are no assurances that the vote, as a H
lss, can be delivered. 1t is characteristic of the
erage American to recall his liberty of choice \
the polls. Altogether, there is no ground for
mplacency anywhere. S