The Scrimmage

Politics in this country is very like a game of football. The sport requires that there be a ball to boot about. In years gone by, the tariff and silver issues served the purpose --but they had their drawbacks, like all economic questions, for someone or other was sure to have his toes stepped on. Thereupon he realized quickly in what direction his interests lay.

The possibility of foreign policy as a football has only been realized to the full by politicians in recent years. A foreign policy excites both patriotism and idealism; its results are usually complex enough to bear two interpretations; and, best of all, this country is not likely to feel its effect for some time. It was a great discovery. It has almost completely revolutionized this country's conduct of foreign affairs, for a President, before putting a foreign policy into effect must first examine the entire political situation at home.

President Harding is very evidently trying to do this. He has lined up the Administration on the World Court, but he has not yet taken the ball in his arms to try to run the length of the gridiron. He has too strongly fixed in his mind the experience of President Wilson, who, with the League of Nations, tried to parade down the field without recognizing that a football game was in progress. As result Mr. Wilson was thrown for a loss.

President Harding intends to take no such chances, but he has carried the ball onto the field and the politicians want to play. Already they have begun to scrimmage.

The Republican National Committee was the first to take a kick at the ball. In its anti-entanglement ardor it declared that the Allies were attempting to " bilk " the United States out of payment for our Rhine Army bill (TIME, June 4). The State Department felt itself embarrassed and at its request the National Committee withdrew its article.

Thereupon the Democratic opposition took up the attack and declared that there was antagonism within the Republican team. John T. Adams, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, denied the accusation and in the same statement almost repeated the charges of the original Committee article.

Cordell Hull, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee was quick to seize the advantage of pressing the assertion of disorganization in the Republican machine. It was suggested that Mr. Adams would resign because of disagreement with President Harding. (It seems likely, however, that Mr. Adams will probably continue in office until the next National Convention.)

The next move in the game was for Mr. Adams, and he took the opportunity to seize the offensive. He turned the charges of disagreement back on the Democrats. " How does the Democratic Party stand on the League of Nations issue, Mr. Hull?" inquired Mr. Adams. " Does it agree with such Democrats as Senator Walsh of Massachusetts and Senator Shields of Mississippi who oppose the League of Nations ? Does it agree with Senator King who says the League will not be an issue? Does it agree with ex-President Wilson, John H. Clarke, James M. Cox and others who are ardent advocates of the League?"

This was a very astute move on the part of Mr. Adams, for Mr. Hull cannot make a direct reply without antagonizing elements of his own party. The scrimmage is well begun. There will be some spectacular plays before the whistle blows on election day in 1924.