The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-14

construe as an indication that the Re-
| publican majority in the present con-
gress will change to a Democratic ma
| jority in the next. This is based chief
| ly on the dissension in the Republican
party and upon the severe attacks made
| by a great many of the newspapers hav-
| ing Republican tendencies upon the
party and its leaders in congress and
in the nation. I am glad to say that
so far as the legislation which 1 have
indicated above is concerned there
seems to be clear party majority in
both houses in favor of it's passage and
the redemption of the party pledges.
There is, however. a very decided Diff
ference as to the proper rules to pre-
vail in the house and as to the senate
personnel of the leadership.
ut would seem as if these questions
were questions that might well be solved
within the party lines, but they have
been so acute as to produce what has
been called an insurection and to
awaken the country over a controversy
between the insurgents and the regu-
lars, so-called. I am hopeful that as
we approach the lines of battle for the
next year the settlement of these in
ternal questions can be effected without
| such breach of the party as to pre-
vent our presenting an unbroken front
| to the enemy.
"Mr. Roosevelt aroused the country
| and the people to the danger we were
| in of having all our politics and all our
places of governmental authority con-
| trolled in corporate interests and to
| serve the greed of selfish but powerful
men. But as an inevitable aftermath
! of such agitation, we find a condition
of hysteria on the part of certain in
dividualS and on the part of others a
condition of hypocrisy manifesting it
| self in the blind denunciation of all
wealth and in the impeachment of the
motives of men of the highest charac-
| ter and by demagogic appeals to the
imagination of a people greatly aroused
upon the subject of purity and honesty
| in the administration of government.
Leaders Attacked Without Reason.
1.-The tendency is to resent attach
ment to party or party organization
and to an assertion of individual opin-
ion, and purpose, at the expense of
party discipline. The movement is
toward factionalism and small groups.
rather than toward large party organ
izatiOn and the leaders of the party
organization are subjected to the Sc
verest attacks and to the questioning
of their motives without any adequate
evidence to justify it.
81 am far from saying that the Re
publican party is perfect. No party
which has exercised such power as it
has exercised for the last years
could be expected to maintain either in
It's Iduh anu Illc OF III IFS management
men of the purest and highest motives,
and 1 am the last one to advocate any
halt in the prosecution and condemna
ton of Republicans. however prominent
| and powerful. whose conduct requires
criminal or other prosecution and con-
deL4nation.
1T should be we'll understood that
with the Republican party in it's pres
ent condition with it's various divisions
subjected to the cross fire of it's own
nd q 70 afi Ions
halt or failure on the part of those in
authority to punish and condemn cur
ruption or corrupt methods will be pro-
perly visited upon the party itself,
however many good men it contains.
Tariff and Prices.
We shall be called upon to respond
to the charge in the next campaign
that the tariff. for which we are re-
| sponsibIe, has raised prices. If the peo-
| pie listened to reasonable arguments,
! it will be easy to demonstrate that high
| prices proceed from an entirely differ
ent cause, and that the present tariff,
| Leing largely revision downward ex-
! cept with respect to silks and liquors,
| which are luXuries. cannot be charged
| with having increased any prices.
! But this will not prevent our DEM
! ocratie friends from arguing on the
principle of post hoe propter hoe and
| that because high prices followed the
tariff, therefore they are the result of
4 1t. And we must not be bind to the
weight of such an argument in an cleo
toral campaign.
The reason for the rise in the cost
| of necessities can easily be traced to
| the increase in our measure of values,
| the precious metal gold, and possibility
| in some cases to the combination in re-
| straint of trade.
The question of the tariff must be
argued out. The prejudice created by
the early attacks upon the bill and the
gross misrepresentation of its charac-
| ter must be met by a careful presenta-
| ton of the facts as to the contents of
| the bill and also as to its actual oper-
| alton and statistics shown thereby.
| 81 believe we have a strong case if
we can only get it into the minds of
| the people.
| Should Party Disaster Come.
Should disaster follow US and the
Republican majority in the house be-
come a minority. in the next house, it
may be possible that in the Demo-
| cratic exercise of its power the peo-
| pie of this country will see which is
the party of accomplishment. which
| is the party of arduous deeds done,
| and which is the party of words and
| irresponsible opposition.
II only want one more word. From
time to time attacks are made upon