The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-21

measure ana weigh the local influences
which may have affected the general re-
suit, enough is known to justify the
conclusion that two leading political
parties show practically the strength
that they did a year ago. If the re-
publican policies which have been de-
velopiag during the last twelve months
have aroused any protest among the
people, that protest has been offset by
the assassination 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 Mckin-
ley, the man. 1t is not unnatural that
the republicans should have been spur
red to greater activity by the presi-
dents death, neither is it strange hat
it caused some apathy on the other
side.
There was another general cause
which the republican position, namely,
the ability of the republicans to get
out their vote. The otf-year elections
always show a falling off in the voting
population as compared presidential
and congressional elections, and the
party that IS best organized and the
most successful in getting it's 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 re-
publican vote of twenty thousand, and
a loss in the fusion vote of thirty
thousand, the republican candidate
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
everywhere with which to organize,
the republicans in some of the states
are able to secure from the railroad
companies transportation for all per-
sons who desire to return home to vote.
In every community there are voters
who, for business reasons, have fire.
quent occasion to be absent from
home. The party that is able to bring
ev cry voter home on election day has.
an immense advantage over the party
that cannot furnish transportation.
During the recent campaign the re-
publican authorities were prepared to
secure passes and send every Nebraska
student home to vote, Il practice not
only helpful to the party, but democrat
izing to the citizen.
The returns do not give any consid-
cradle advantage to either element of
the democratic party. The reorgan-
izers have not gained any prestige
where they have secured control,
neither have the regular democrats
won any signal victories where they
have been in charge of the campaign.
We gain a senator in Kentucky and
che state shows an increase in the
strength of the democratic party, but
as we elected a 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,
u as the campaign vas fought purely
on local issues, (the negro question be-
ing the main %issue), the victory is not
a yindication of any national policy.
In Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New
Jersey, where the conventions failed,
Or refused to reatfirm the Kansas Ciry
platform, the republicans won. In
Massachusetts,, Iowa and Nebraska,
where the conventions did reafirm the
Kansas City platform, the republicans
also Insofar as the result has
any influence upon the democratic
party, it will tend to strengthen those
who believe in fighting for principle
rather than those who are all the time
offering to lead the party to a glorious
victory, provided it will abandon its
principles. Those who fight for prin-
clple may mourn over a 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 in the hope of secur-
ing political success have little to con-
sole them when a reverse comes. If
a man barters his convictions for a
promise of success and then loses, he
has nothing left. If a man keeps his
convictions with him he has a founda-
ton upon which to build in future
contests.
1t would seem that the republican
policies ought to arouse overwhelming
opposition among the wealth producers
of the country, for surely no man who
earns his living can point to any ad-
vantage which the republican party
brings or a bring to the masses of
the people. In the bank control of
our currency, in the monopolistic con-
troll of our industries and in an imper-
ial policy for the country there is dan
ger and disaster for a large majority
OF the people. But they evidently fail
to appreciate the viciousness of the
principles which are at work. The
Onl- .e.,s(n Ehat, can ha Il ra xvn fron, ~,