Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-27
The Political Mill
BY C. Could Lincoln.


ranks that it will give the Democrats
victory at the polls in 1880 and, more
important. in 1882? 1t is a conSumma-
ton that is devoutly hoped by the
Democrats. What the insurgents hope
is more nebulous. Doubtless they wish
the Republican party as a whole to ac-
cept the ideas advanced by them.
There are two sides to the question
whether the Democrats are showing
political acumen in playing the Repub-
lican insurgents game. In the first
place, the Democrats must consider the
effect in the more populous States of
the East and North. Massachusetts and
Rhode Island were two of the very few
States which the Democrats carried in
the national election two years ago.
New York, with it's huge electoral vote,
was close although it went for PreSi-
dent Hoover. There is danger that the
Democrats may lose the advantage
which they have gained in these in
dustrial States If they flop over to the
leadership of the Western Republicans.
x
On the other hand, serious revolt
among the Republicans of the West and
Northwest might have a disastrous
effect on Republican success, particular
ly as the Democratic solid South" gives
every impression of becoming once more
solid. The Democratic leaders, with
their eyes on the Western Republican
progreSSiveS are barking back to the
days of the Bull Moose, when Theodore
Roosevelt split the G. o. P. asunder
and made possible the victory of
Woodrow Wilson.
But those who are warning the
Democrats of the futility of joining the
Republican insurgents in their efforts
O e. h. 81 ,g,A,.. a.
legislation are looking to a more recent
event, the formation of a third presi-
dental ticket headed by the late Senator
Robert M. La Toilette of Wisconsin. In
that instance history failed to repeat
itself. Despite the detection of the La
Toilette Republicans, including the
Senators from North Dakota and Sena-
tor Brookhart of Iowa, the Republican
national ticket swept everything before
1t; Coolidge was elected President, and
John w. Davis the Democratic nominee
was hopelessly beaten, along with La
Toilette.
1t is true that in 1924 the Democrats
had a serious split in their party align
ment following the uproarious national
convention in Madison Square Garden.
But is there any assurance today that
the factions which warred in the famous
old garden in 1924 will not be at grips
again in the Democratic convention in
1882? John w. Davis was a compromise
candidate after a bitter battle. Four
years later in Houston, Tex, the Demo-
Gratis with more outward signs of amity
yielded to the Northern and Eastern
faction of the party, the faction which
opposes prohibition, and nominated
Alfred E. Smith. The result, however
was more disastrous than ever. -Four
of the regularly Democratic States of
the South broke away from their tradi-
tional allegiance.
The troubles of the Republicans are
in the spotlight right now. 1t would be
foolish to minimize them On the other
hand, the troubles of the Democrats
have shown no signs of vanishing. The
Democratic party, nationally, is far
worse divided than the Republicans at
the present writing over the prohibi-
ton question. And that question is
one that the party will have to reckon
with when it comes to selecting can
didate for President.
* X \
The greatest danger that confronts
the Republicans is the possibility of
hard times, or even of a depression
The Democrats at the outset of the
congressional campaign of 1880 are en-
phasizing the fact that there is unem-
ployment in sections of the country:
that stock prices and grain prices are
down. Politically, as we'll as economic
cally, a tremendous amount depends
upon the turn of business in America
during the next few months. If condi-
lions grow better the Democrats, while
they may gain seats in the House and
several in the Senate, are not likely
to gain control of either house of Con-
greSs. On the other hand If condi-
tons grow worse there might be q real
upheaval which would result in plac-
ing control of the House, if not the
Senate, in the hands of the Democrats
Voters, when the pinch of the pocket
book comes, hit out at the party in
power 1t has happened before when
both the Republicans and Democrats
were in control in Washington.
X x
Discussion of the accomplishments OF
the administration of President Hoover
during his first year in the White House
has already begun. Republicans insist
that much has been done in compare
lively brief period and before another
year is out much more will have been
accomplished. The Democrats, on the
other hand, say the Hoover accom-
pltshments have been nil. Chairman
Jouett ShouSe of the executive COM
mittee of the Democratic national
committee has undertaken to compare
the first year of the Wilson admins
tration with the first year of Hoover
control in the White House He was
careful to list the Federal Reserve act
ana other measures put through Con-
gress and signed by President Wilson as
accomplishments" of the Wilson ad-
ministration. But Senator Mcclellan OF
tennessee, attacking the Hoover record
III the Senate, declined to allow Mr.
Hoover credit for the tax reduction bill
taking $l60,000,000 off the shoulders OF
the Federal income tax payers this year
on the ground that the measure was
passed by both houses of Congress
practically without opposition. Either
an act of Congress, put through at the
suggestion of President, is an accom-
plishment for that Presidents admins
tration or 1t is not. That's a matter
which Mr.. Shouse and Senator Mcclellan
Will have to straighten out for them
selves.
Word was received here today that
Mr.. Shouse has stated in Memphis.
Tenn, that Democrats who supported
President Hoover in the last election
should not be barred from Democratic
primaries this year. He is for welcom.
ing back into the party all Democratic
voters who declined to follow the Demo-
cratic national ticket in 1928. This
means sound political sense. To do
otherwise is merely to intensity divisions
in the party which sprang up in States
that usually have been Democratic
Texas, Alabama and Arkansas have I'M
dertaken to debar Hoover Democrats
and opponents of Smith from becoming
candidates in the Democratic primaries,
Local conditions have influenced this
action, it is true. A certain section of
the Democratic party in Alabama, for
/ example, is doing it's best to eliminate
Senator Tom" Helm. and in Texas the
regular Democratic organization is do