Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-20
The Political Mill
BY C.. Could Lincoln.

oSACC Will biic AeIIlOCTdLlC CTlLlCS Va
the administration that all Is lost so
| far as the Republicans are concerned
next year. Yet he does not minimize
the danger of the situation from Re-
publican point of view. He said, how
ever, when he was recently in Washing
ton:
IF the Republicans are as badly
scared as our opponents claim, then we
are not likely to lose in 1882 by over
| confidence"
Mr.. Smith, who was formerly State
| Senator and is a veteran of a great
many political battles, does not believe
in being overconfident He has seen
too many defeats because of overconfi-
| dence. The very fact that the G. o. P.
| may be considered to have its back to
! the wall in the coming campaign is
likely to prove an asset in fight which,
notwithstanding the shouts of the DEM
| ocratic opposition Mr.. Smith is not yet
! willing to admit is all over.
1.-The Democrats" MIR. Smith added
| seem to be waiting for Raskob to give
| the nod" referring to the Democratic
| national chairman. Continuing, Mr..
Smith said, II have been surprised since
my arrival in Washington at the fire.
quent mention of the name of owen
D. Young" Mr. Smith meant OF
course, the mention of Mr.. Young's
| name In connection with the Demo-
| cratic presidential nomination. Mr.
Young, it has been insisted by many
persons who contend they know the
inside" OF the policy of the Democratic
national organization, is the real choice
of Chairman Raskob for the presidential
| nomination next year. Just how far
the head of the board of the General
Electric Co. caa get, however, in a
Democratic nati0rIel convention re-
mains to be seen. M. Young is highly
| regarded personally and for his great
success in the business world. He has
not held political Office hliless his serv-
| ice overseas in conneJ ton with the
reparation muddle can oe so construed
'It seems to be settled" Mr.. Smith
said, that President Hoover will be
| renominated without opposition In
| this view OF the Republican situation
Mr.. Smith concurs, apparently, with
| practically all other Republican leaders
big or little. There is growing belief
| among these Republican leaders that
the Democrats, despite their constant
| attacks on the President, will not be able
! to indict him before the American peo-
pie. They assert that the criticisms OF
the President by the Democratic spokes-
men have no body, that they are mere
| ly invectives and will get nowhere with
the general body of the voters.
X Il
| The Republicans are showing signs of
| taking the offensive against their Demo-
cratic opponents these days. For ex-
ample, Senator Dickinson Of Iowa is
sued statement today seeking to show
that the speeches made by Chairman
Jouett Shouse Of the Democratic Ex-
! ecutive Committee, now on the West
Coast, while filled with attack upon the
President, have presented no program.
legislative or otherwise, en- behalf of
the Democrats. The Republicans are
constantly reiterating the charge that
the Democrats have nothing to offer the
country, even If they are put into power
They are likely to continue to hammer
away at the opposition along this line
for longe time. 1t may be an eff
fective method of attack. Said Senator
Dickinson:
The Democrats are without any pro-
gram unless we may regard the recon-
mendations of Mr.. Raskob as the party
platform. The nubbin of these recon-
| nendations is prohibition repeal and the
junking of the antitrust laws-propcsi-
tons which have created an intsase
strife within the Democratic party and
which led large section of the de-
mocracy of Southern California to di-
rectly snub Mr.. Shouse upon his ap-
pearance at Les Angeles for the second
in his series of addresses
Mr.. Shouse in his Portland speech
boasts that the Democrats will 'consti-
tute the only united coherent efforts
for legislation in the next Congress and
then says that Democratic efforts in
loo he
Thus Mr. Shouse again deals in
generalities whereas the country expects
specifications.
The Democrats are having a bit of
fun at the expense of Representative Ber-
trand H. Smell of New York, chairman
OF the House Rules Committee, and an
aSpirant for the speakerShip in the COM
ing Congress. Mr. Smell in a speech in
New York said In effect that the pro-
tective tariff had gone the limit in the
matter of aiding industries in this
country. The Democrats read into his
| statement that the Republican tariff
makers have gone beyond the limit and
that Mr.. Smell is perhaps now willing
to go in the other direction. They
attribute his attitude to fear on the
part OF the Republicans of an approach
ing political storm, Representative Nc
Dufhe of Alabama, Democratic whip of
the House, has this to say of Mr.. Smell :
THE astute Congressman Smell evil
IDENTIFY has sensed the approaching
storm of indignation which in 1882 will
restore the control of affairs in this
Government to the Democratic party.
OF course, nothing but the fear OF the
wrath of the people could divorce the
Republican leadership from those IA
intQrncfc hQVn 11xy
carried out their program CT high
tariff laws and artificial stimulation of
their own business.
THE leopard cannot change his
spots and the people will not in the
near future put their unfailing trust
in leadership which has been so
hurtful to the public welfare. Under
that leadership America has set the
pace in building tariff walls against
which IS or 40 foreign nations have
protested and many have since retail
ated with similar laws
international business confidence
has been almost destroyed by the Re-
publican party. Under its policies our
foreign trade Is in extremity, while
business in America has declined TO
its tragic conditions.
X
In other quarters MIR. SHELLS state
ment is attributed to desire to make
his peace with some of the ProgresSives
In his own party, who have been en-
emieS of the tariff act which Mr.. Smell
assisted on its way through the House.
Mr.. Smell has taken a running start
for the speakership nomination. There
is no doubt among his colleagues about
his ability to preside over the House.
But whether he can be elected is an
other matter.
X y X
Despite the fact that Democrats have
candidates for the presidential nomina-
ton in many States, there are
two States particularly prominent in
the public mind today when the
Dannnnratic mammalian IL ,,r,So,. g..