The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-11-05
THE NEW LEADERS.

The NEW LEADERS.
The result Of the national election
politically might be termed the re-
,demption of the Republican party by
a casual observer; but ii really is an
indication of the virility and elasti-
city of the dominant political party.
Since its organization the party has
seen much development and expan-
sion of the country, unavoidable con
tact with foreign nations and ire
preside nationalism. Colonial pos
session thrust upon us by a war
OF humanity; guardianship of South
and Central American states assumed
to protect the Monroe doctrine; trade
relations abroad, especially in the
orient with its complex questions:
prolific development of corporate ag-
gregations by reason of sudden trade
Expansion and the perfecting of ma
chinery; and the necessity of curb
ing unlawful ayarice, ana improving
means of internal commerce to meet
the demands for cheapness and rap
idly of Interchange; the construction
of the Panama canal. and the meet
ing of new questions, which an awak-
Iening of public conscience have pro-
duced-all these matters have sprung
up for solution in the last forty years.
There are among the Republican
leaders older statesmen, like Cannon
and Aldrich and Foraker. who look
on things as they used to be: who
remember political battles of the long
ago. and when they study conditions
do not understand that the public has
changed. They are dealing with a.
new generation.
Such men naturally clashed with a
character of the Roosevelt type. His
ways to them we're ways of error.
They only hoped that when his term
expired he would be succeeded byl
some one they could understand. He
hoped to see the policies he set on
foot perpetuated and enforced. They
clashed over the nomination, and
when Taft won some Of them never
became reconciled. Those men fur
nished all the ammunition used by
the Democrats in the national cam,
paign. and when Taft was elected. II
was not Bryan so much as the re-
dictionaries in the Republican party,
who were defeated As The Sun
stated in the beginning. the real issue
was the Roosevelt program. and the
senate would have regarded Taft's
defeat as a reputation of the policies
of the administration. The old Lead.
ers were really as much opposed to
Taft as Bryan was and there were
practically three parties. as to the
issues
While the elder statesmen were
clinging TO. the old ways and old
theories, a. distinctly new element
was growing In strength in the sen.
ate. 1t is composed of Beveridge. OF
Indiana, La Toilette, of Wisconsin,
and men of their stamp. The result
of this election has been to win Oh 10
away from Foraker, and with the
election of a Democratic governor,
perhaps, maybe to send members OF
Cox's Cincinnati gang to the peniten-
tiary. In Indiana Fairbanks senator,
Hemenway, is retired, to be succeed |
ed by a Democrat; Congressman
Watson. a Fairbanks candidate for
governor, is defeated: and all his
other henchmen in the lower house
are beaten.
In New York, Hughes, a fair type
of the progressive statesman, is elect
ed governor, and a legislature will
choose successor to Tom Plat, re-
moving another barnacle.
In Iowa Governor Cummins, an
other of the new style. viii go to the
senate; and Missouri has elected
Had.ey, Republican. a reformer, gov
ernor, while Minnesota returned Gov
ernor Johnson to the executive chair.
Tammany's treachery to Bryan, IL
is said will result in Bryan Demo-
Gratis in New York. supporting a Re-
publican administration in that city,
and Blackwells Island may becom..
the abiding pace OF some members
of the worst band OF political cut
threats outside the city of Philade.-
phia.
The year was critical for the Re-
publican party and the country; but