The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-25
CAMPAIGNS

L
ed. the fact that the administrative
branch OF the government was not
bound to respect the verdict OF the
people, and In fact did not do 90, con-
tributed TO the popular notion that
congressional elections are not import.
ant anyhow. Therefore the contempt
In which politicians hold the elections
OF an on year. II next month the
Democrats should elect majority OF
the house Of representatives and thus
for the fir,t time In eighteen years
achieve a national victory. the coun-
try would not regard the event as q
definite political decision. In England.
or In France, a similar victory would
mean practical reversal OF the poll
teal policies OF the nation. Here q
Democratic victory will be valued by
the Democrats only insofar as ar
| lords basis for hope OF victory In
the presidential campaign q 1919;
while the Republicans will pooh-pooh
the whole matter as the ilconseQuen.
tial accident Of an or year In poll
| tics.
From the very beginning OF Amer
lean political history this tendency to
subordinate the Importance OF con-
gressional elections has been foster.
ed by system of political parties
whose organization has depended
rather upon presidents than parlia-
ments rather upon patronage than
principles. Personal leadership has
counted for much In all political ac-
tivities In every country and age. but
only In the United States has loyal
~ to personal leader been made
the determining factor In party gov
eminent We have developed the pre-
cinct captain, the county chairman,
the ward leader the city boss, the pie
dispensing senator, and the political
president at the expense OF the town
meeting. the county board of super
visors, the city council, the state leg
islature, and the national congress-.
! In spite OF these general truths
there are some striking exceptions to
| the rule. At times the congressional
campaigns, even In "off" years. have
assumed a tolerable degree Of I'M
portance and have been the means Of
recording popular political verdicts
which have made permanent impress
upon the course Of national history.
Sometimes these important political
campaigns have resulted In over
turning n majority party In the house
OF representatives, thereby paving the
way for subsequent presidential vie-
tory and the transfer OF all govern
mental activity from one political
T, party 10 another. Thus, the Demo
cratic congressional victory OF 1890
presaged the election OF Cleveland In
1892. Just as the Republican congress
sionai triumph of 1894 foreshadowed
the election of Mckinley In 1896.
sometimes these important congress
sional campaigns have resulted not In
overthrowing the dominant party In
the house, but In upsetting the pre-
vailing policy of both majority and
minority, sometimes changing the
party name. but more often retaining
the form while reversing the practice.
Thus In 1910 the Democratic majority
was increased, yet the vast majority
OF the old members were defeated
and q new school OF Democrats took
their places. Henry Clay and John C..
Calhoun were leaders In this early
insurgent movement.
II Is interesting to note that these
exceptional congressional campaigns
always have had their origin In fac
tional quarrels among the members
Of one OF the principal parties, and
never as the result OF the attacks OF
one party upon the other. Direct par
ty warfare has succeeded In arousing
the general interest Of the people
only when In a presidential election
each party has been able TO visualize
itself in the person Of It's chosen
leader.
Party splits usually, II not always,
have produced interesting congress
sional campaigns. Such family quar-
rels always cause great excitement
and more or less bitterness. and they
always give the opposition party great
hope. Sometimes hopes thus en-
gendered have been grievously dis
appointed.
In the present campaign the fac
tional quarrel between regular and In
surgent Republicans has caused the
people Of the country AT large TO take
more interest In the election than
they have done In any on year Stree
1894, when there was a serious split
in the then dominant Democratic
party. It 10 not the province of these
articles to make any political predic-
lions or to draw any historical an
alogies. Their only OF ect Is to re-
call the events Of past congressional
campaigns, Of other "off" year elec-
tons and Of the political battles
which engrossed the interest and at
tention Of our forefathers.