Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-11-28
ELECTIONS OF 1901.
REPUBLICAN, VICTORIES DUE TO
AID OF CORPORATIONS.
"No Man Who Earns His Living Can Point to
Any Advantage Which the Republican
Party Brings or Can Bring to the Masses
Of the People,

While it is impossible at this time to
measure and weigh the local influences
which may have affected the general re-
suit, enough is known to justify the con-
clusion that the two leading political
parties show practically the same
strength that they did a year ago. If
the republican policies which have been
developing during the last twelve months
have aroused any protest among the
people, that protest has been offset by
the influence exerted by the assassina-
ton OF the president. The republicans
everywhere confessed their reliance upon
this influence when they devoted so
much time to appeals to the personal
regard felt for Mckinley, the man. Iii
not unnatural that the republicans
should have been spurred to greater
activity by the presidents death. neither
is it strange that it caused some apathy
on TIE other side.
There was another general cause Which
helped the republican position, namely,
the ability OF the republicans to get out
their vote. The off-year elections always
show Il falling off in the voting popula-
ton as compared with presidential and
congressional elections, and the party
that is best organized and most success
full in getting its voters to the polls has
an advantage. Take, for instance, the
election in Nebraska this year. The
total vote will probably fall fifty thousand
below the vote of last year. If there is
a loss in the republican vote OF twenty
thousand, and loss in the fusion vote
of thirty thousand, the republican candi-
date can have ten thousand majority
more than his ticket had last year, and
yet have twenty thousand votes less
than his party polled last year.
Aside from having federal officials
everywhere through whom to reach the
voters, and besides having money every
where with which to organize, the re-
publicans in some of the states are able
to SECURE from the railroad companies
transportation for all persons who desire
10 return uOIllc W NOtc. LII CNCIy SCiA-
rnunity there are voters who; for bust
ness reasons, have frequent occasion to
be absent from home. The party that is
able to bring every voter home on cleo
ton day has an immense advantage over
the party that cannot furnish transport
tation. During the recent campaign the
republican authorities We're prepared to
secure passes and send every Nebraska
student home to vote, a practice not
only helpful to the party, but demoraliz-
ing to the citizen.
The returns do not give any considera-
BILE advantage to either element OF the
democratic party. The reorganizers have
not gained any prestige where they have
secured control, neither have the regu-
lar democrats won any signal victories
where they haye been in charge of the
campaign.
We gain senator in Kentucky and the
state shows an increase in the strength
of the democratic party, but as we elect
ed democratic senator there two years
ago, and carried the state last year, the
result this year, though gratifying, was
confidently expected. The democrats
have carried Maryland, and Mr.. German
will in all probability be reelected to the
senate, but as the campaign was fought
purely on local issues, (the negro ques-
ton being the main issue), the victory
is not vindication of any national
policy. In Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, where the conventions failed or
refused to reafiirm the Kansas City plat
form, the republicans won. In Massa-
chusetts, Iowa and Nebraska, where the
conventions did reatlirm the Kansas
City platform, the republicans also won.
Insofar as the result has any influence
upon the democratic party, it will tend
to strengthen those who believe i'll fight
ing for principle rather than those who
are all the time Offering to lead the party
to glorious victory, provided it will
abandon its principles. Those who fight
for principle may mourn over defeat,
but their purpose is not shaken because
they are doing what they believe they
ought to and find their reward in the
consciousness of duty done. Those,
however, who are willing to suspend
their principles i'll the hope OF securing
political success have little to console
them when Il reverse comes. II Il man
barriers his convictions for a promise OF
success and then loses, he has nothing
left; ii man keeps his convictions with
him he has foundation upon which to
build in future contests.
1t would seem that republican policies
ought to arouse overwhelming opposition
among the wealth. producers OF the coun-