Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-11-03
SENSE FROM GovERNOR HoCH

SENSE FROM GOVERNOR H0CH
Marion Record: Things political
Iare awfully mixed wherever have
wandered, and Republicans and Dem
Iocrats alike are revoicIng the burn
ling question of the statesman from
1.-THE land OF the razor backs who
larose in his congressional seat one
day and Numbered not only into the
ears Of the speaker, but into every
one else's ears for several blocks
Iaround, where are we att" There
lis the Colonel insurging at Osawat'
Iomie and stand-patting at Saratoga
| There is Bryan boiling his party
ticket in Nebraska because II would
mt stand for a county option law
and campaigning for his party In
Indiana, where 1t has pledged in Its
platform to repeal the county OPP
ton law. And the inconsistency oil
these two eminent generals Of the
opposing armies is but a sample oil
similar exhibitions on the part OF
the colonies and corporals and prl-
Yates In both camps. II one turns to
the respective platforms confusion is
worse COMPOUNDED Both platforms
are like man, "fearfully and won
derfully made" Tribute has been
laid for them upon all the Demo-
cratic junk heaps and Populistic gar
bage barrels in the back yard Of poll
tics. No self-respecting Democrat or
conscientious Republican Is under
any obligation to swallow all the
stuff blown on the party bottles this
year, 1t would be violation OF the
pure food law to do 1t. They have
not been properly inspected 6y the
sanitary commission. A sane Repuh-
Iican or Democrat might take the
initiative and referendum, because 1t
Is a harmless lotion, which may do
the body polite no harm while it
does 1t no good. But l warn the
patient against the poison called the
Recall" 1t is dangerous. 1t VIII
make towards and weather vancs OF
public men. The people are ultimate
ly right, as a rule, but they are
very often temporarily wrong. Ev-
eryone knows that foolish crazes
sweep the country occasionally. The
people often act from sudden illl-
pulse upon insufficient information
They get right, after awhile but they
are not always right, except in pur-
pose, in the beginning. A Republic
needs balance wheels. 1t needs con-
seryatiye forces. 1t needs checks and
brakes. Our fathers wisely provided
these safeguards against hasty and in
considerate action, and we will be
wise to retain them. This recall
foolishness would have worked havoc
in this country in countless cases
had 1t been in vogue in the past.
Washington would have been recalled
by the Tories, Lincoln by the Cop
perheads and Mckinley by the jim
goes. This country needs strong,
courageous men in public places to
to tide 1t through the spasms OF I'M
rest and unreason which periodically
sweep over the land. The recall
would rob us OF their services when
they are most needed. It would
make government foot ball to be
kicked around by the ignorant or
vicious agitator. 1t would put pow
erful weapon in the hands OF the
demagogue, and heaven knows he Is
armed too heavily already. 1t would
increase the power Of the yellow
journal ten-fold. This and some otn-
err planks in both platforms belong
in that historic "old Black Bottle
Of mine. They belong with the anti
quities and should bear cross-bone
labels.