Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-10
Democratic Leaders Offer of
Cooperation Event of Ex-
traordinary Significance.
EMERGENCY RECOGNIZED
IN G. o. P. ACCEPTANCE
Statements to Have Effect on 1882
Campaign-Sincerity
an Issue.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Announcement by Senator Watson OF
Indiana, Republican leader of the
Senate, that he formally accepted the
offer of cooperation signed by the
Democratic leaders of the House and
the Senate respectively and the chair
man of the Democratic National COM
| mittee, Is the first step in what has long
been hoped here would mean coalition
Government.
The tact that Senator Robinson of
Arkansas and Representative Garner
of Texas who lead the Democrats in
both Eouses, publicly offered co-opera-
ton and backed it up with signed
statements from Chairman Haskob as
well as James M. Cox, Alfred E. Smith
and John w Davis, who may be re-
garded as unoflcial leaders of the party
because Of their position as standard
bearers in previous years, is a political
event of extraordinary significance.
When Mr.. Watson after conferences
with Republican leaders at the White
| House decided TO make public formal
acceptance it was recognition Of the
| situation Of the country which prompted
| the move.
The leaders of both parties realize
that what the country wants to know
at the moment is whether the major
| parties have ceased to function as M
! strumentalities or whether they are GO
| ing to continue to be divided into
groups and blocs
Dissent to Be Expected.
Already some of the insurgents on
| hcth sides have taken issue with the
| announcements of their leaders, and 1t
| is to be expected that there will be
dissent. Yet If the public statements
! OF both the Republican and Democratic
leaders are followed by constructive
! steps later on, a coalition of conserva-
| tives, or at least non-radicals, may be
| formed which would be powerful enough
| to pass any legislation, as we'll as to
| prevent the passage Of laws harmful to
| business
The belief prevails here that the
seven Democrats who signed the state
ment Offering cooperation and profnis-
Ing that there would be no tactics de-
signed 70 enbarrass the President did
SO because of belief that the country
stu harbored q lingering impression
that the Democratic party was 4 dis
The Democratic leaders had everything
10 gain by their statements, because
they we're really making a bid for the
support OF the country In 1882 on the
ground that the Democratic party could
be trusted with power The pronounce-
ment came as complete surprise to
the Republicans, who, of course, were
quick to see the advantage of public
acceptance, because it gives them the
opportunity later on Of quoting from
this document in the event that the
Democrats line up against the Repub-
ncanS on important measures. It Is diff
flcilt to draw the line between tactics
that are embarrassing to the President
and sincere efforts to prevent the pas
sage OF legislation on which there is q
real difference of opinion.
Two-Way CO-Operation.
Senator Walsh of Montana, Demo-
crat who has Just been reelected,
made a very significant statement
when he remarked that cooperation to
be effective must come from both sides.
and that the Republicans must be
ready to accept measures sponsored by
Democrats if these measures have
merit. He referred particularly to the
bill introduced by Senator Wagner,
Democrat, of New York, with reference
| to unemployment, and which was side
! tracked by Republicans in the Senate.
The Democrats contend that this was
done because of a fear by the Repub-
| licans that the Democratic party would
get credit for constructive legislation
on the unemployment situation.
(Copyright, 1900