Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-09
rHE ELECTION REsuLrs.

The results of Tuesdays elections
should command the earnest attention
Of the American people. There is sug-
gested I'm them lessons which are of
the greatest significance and which all
who are interested in political affairs
ought to study carefully. Primarily
they suggest the great power of public
opinion and the general readiness Of
the people to approve policies and prin-
ciples that are manifestly fair and just
There is conveyed in some of the re-
suits an assurance of popular resent
ment against corruption in public life
that is in the highest degree satisfac-
tory. This is consplcuously shown in
the result of the Philadelphia election.
The powerful political machine which
for years has controlled the affairs of
that city, becoming more and more
rapacious and INSCRIPTIONS from year
to year, has been completely overthrown
and in all probability will never be able
to again resume the power it has now
lost. This will do no harm, but rather
good, to the republican party, because
the credit of IL is due to that party. 1t
was republican votes that redeemed
Philadelphia from the rule of an un-
scrupulous and corrupt bossism. Every
republican paper in that city, with a
single exception, was arrayed against
the machine" and the most prominent
republicans were in accord with the
newspapers.
Another lesson, though perhaps less
significant and impressive, because diff
ferent conditions obtained there, is seen
in the result in Ohio. The democratic
victory in that state is to n large ex-
tent attributable to popular resentment
against a republican boss who for years
has dominated the party in Cincinnati
and who only a few weeks ago was
publicly denounced by Secretary Taft
as a man who ought to be repudiated
by the party. While it is true that the
republican candidate, Governor Her
rick, had antagonized elements which
two years ago supported him, it is still
a fact that the bossism of Cox, who
represented the corporations, was a very
potent influence in determining the re-
suit of the election. The popular YER
dict in Ohio is not against republican
principles and policies, but against a
bossism that had become utterly OBJ
noxious to thousands of republicans
who, like Secretary Taft, felt that the
time had come to overthrow it. No in
telligent student of political affairs can
fail to understand the significance of
the result of Tuesdays election in Ohio,
While the result of the election In
New York City is at this writing unde-
termined, the meaning of the very large
vote cast for Mr.. Hearst, exceeding by
many thousands the highest estimates
made before the election, is apparent
1t was a popular protest against the
arrogance and the rapacity of great
corporations and the corruption in pub
lie affairs in that great city. 1t Is an
expression Of dissatisfaction with exist
ing conditions which ought to have a
potent influence for reform not only
there, but wherever similar conditions
in any degree prevail. The insurance
disclosures, for one thing, had no little
to do with contributing to the Hearst
vote and it ia evident that not a few
republicans gave their support to him
All this is suggestive of a change iT
popular sentiment which those who TAXI
an interest in politics should give heeC
to. It means a revolt against bossism
machine domination and the dictatior
! and control of corporations which
promises a new order of things gen
orally in political affairs. The nantes
trend is toward the reform and eleva
tion Of American politics, toward
change that will eliminate from on
politics the corrupting and debasinj
conditions and influences which have s.
long prevailed and were steadily grow
ing worse. The lessons of Tuesday
elections should receive the careful cor
sideration of all our peopIe.
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IMPORT OF THE REPUBLICAN, VICTORY