Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14
TWO CAUSES ASSIGNED
EX-RFPRESENTAT TUCKER ON
DEMOCRATIC DEFEAT.
Ascribed to Roosevelt's Popularity and
the Lack of an Issue-Is Not
Without Hope.

Ex-Representative Henry ST. George
Tucker. presidential elector-at-large from
Virginia, and formerly a democratic repre-
sentative in Congress from that state. and
now dean of the George Washington Uni
versity Law School. in an interview today
gave his reasons to a Star reporter for the
republican landslide which swept the coun-
try on November 8. Mr.. Tucker also out
lined what he thought should be the course
of the democracy in the future.
Two causes. 1 think. although many
more might be assigned, were essential IN
bringing about the overwhelming defeat of
the democratic party in the late election"
said Mr. Tucker.
1.-THE first was that we went TO the coun-
try without any distinctive issues. The
second was the great personal popularity
OF President Roosevelt. who especially APP
pealed to the young men of the country.
The money issue. l think. was properly
abandoned. because 1t was settled, but the
great question of the tariff in all of its
ramifications. especially as developer and
breeder of trusts. was practically abandon
ed by Judge Parker in his letter of accept
ance. If that issue and that alone had
been presented l cannot doubt the result.
Could Unite on Tariff Issue.
Secretary Hay in an interview the day
the election was an Endorsement of the
Presidents policy At the same time he
made the assertion that the republicans
should now proceed to revise the tariff.
The only victories the democrats have won
since the civil war have been on that issue,
and it was the paramount one. In view OIL
the great diversity of opinions held by
those opposed to the republican party, 1T is
almost a hopeless task to unite them on
very many issues. The reduction of the
tariff to a revenue basis only is the one
issue on which all elements can be united.
The defeat of Judge Parker is to be
greatly deplored. He would have made a
safe. conservative President, and one who
would have quickly won the confidence of
the entire people. We have only to keep our
powder dry and await results. Political
revolutions are very rapid in this country.
Criticisms of the campaigns. or of the lead
ers who conducted it, will avail nothing.
We must get together on those essential
principles on which all factions can unite,
present a solid front, and abide our time.
Hope of the South.
1.-The people of the south can only hope
that the characteristics of the President
which we have SO greatly feared and re-
garded as dangerous, may be modlhed by
the great responsibility and obligation
which SO great an evidence of popular ap-
prevail as his election has brought about
With the declaration on his part that the
term to which he has been elected will be
the close of his presidential career, we can
Justly hope for course free from partisan
bias and without the stain of sectional
animosity.
The question of future leadership can be
safely left for the present. Leaders are not
made to order. Acute political necessity al
ways points to the man. If the democrats
will but cherish, stimulate and encourage
the true principles of democracy in the peo-
pie, before another four years have rolled
by there will be developed from the north.
south, east or west some great leader about
whom we can safely rally and hope for vic
tory And his leadership will not be de-
termined by his locality, but by the elements
essential to such leadership