Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-11-04
Americas, Ca November 4, 1909.
TUESDAYS ELECTIONS AND THEIR
MUTATIONS.

There is nothing in the election re-
turns, as far as they. are yet in, to
give any indication as to current pub
lie opinion on national issues. The
city elections were in nowise fought
out on any grounds that could even
remotely be connected with the ma
tionai administration and its policies.
In New York, Philadelphia and Cleve-
land, local issues predominated en-
tirely. In New York IT was Tammany,
not Democracy, against the field, and
Tammany, with its superb organiza-
ton again won Probably one of the
great errors of political Judgment in
the metropolitan field was the injee-
ton of the white slave issue, and the
publication. on the eve Of the fight
Of magazine and newspaper articles
that must. to say the least, have
grated hard on the sensibilities of the
Jewish people of the great city, One
can we'll magazine that these articles
were boomerang on the great East
Side and calculated to do Tammany
more good than harm. The white slave
traffic. like pellagra, hook worms, and
the evil deeds of the multi-rich, has
doubtless been grossly exaggerated BY
the yellow sheets in the monthly mag.
azine field.
In Philadelphia it was the reform
ers against the old ring, and, as If
New York, the ring won out, electing
the district attorney and other OH.
GERS at issue. Conditions may be ter
rible in both New York and Philadel-
phia, but somehow or other IL seems
to be difficult to make the vast mass
of the people believe il. Anyway We
folks afar off from the scene of bat
tie have the glass blackened too much
that We are forced to look through
1t Is just possible that the Jealous re
formers are neither immaculate MOI
as unselfish as we are led to believ,
they are at long range. The people
at home may know them better.
Out in Cleveland the defeat of Ton
Johnson for Mayor was the natura
sequence of the breaking down of hi
municipal street car ownership plan
and the dissatisfaction bred by IT
futility. Johnson has apparently don,
much for Cleveland during his fou
| terms of Office. but the desire for /;
| change and the natural weakness
that comes from holding Office too lon.
have finally landed him into privat,
life again. Johnson is a big man
though, and will be heard from again
in municipal. state and national poll
tics.
While, the city elections cannot b.
intelligently connected up with ma
tional policies that in New York cit
has its effect on the next nationa
election, as the retention Of the con
troll In the hands Of TRmmanys is o
material assistance to the Democratic
party. in getting out the vote thre'
years hence,
In the state elections there were M
great surprises. In Massachusetts
the Republican majority was cut dowr
from $4,000 to 10000. This may have
been due in measure TO the antagon
ism existing among many Republic
ans there to the recent Republican
tariff legislation. In old Virginia tbs
returns show the usual healthfu
Democratic majority for governor. de
spite the strenuous efforts made b!
the national administration to wear
the state over to Republicanism. Judg
ing from Virginia the breaking up o
the solid South is still acme time II
the distance. If President TAFT Is dis
appointed he can console himself witt
the thought that other Presidents be
fore him have likewise been grieves
over the South's stannch adherence &
Democracy. 1t may, also shake hi
confidence considerably IN the wiki
claims Of Office holdiEg and ofic,
seeking white men in Georgia ant
other Southern States VINO carry glat
tidings to Washington of things tina
will never come to pass, at least no
in their dag.
All In all, If there is any satisfaction
to be derived from the elections De
mocracy draws the greater part OF It
We certainly haven't lost any ground
and there are some straws that. MAJ
Indicate that the opposition party is
weaker than twas. But that is pure,
ly ccnjectural as yet. It will take
the congressional elections next yeas
to really tellsthe actual drift Of pub.
lie opinion generally.