The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-04
PROMISES MUST
BE CARRIED OUT
People Are Entitled to
Square Deal From
Democrats
OTHER COURSE
SPELLS DEFEAT
Champ Clark Tells Why Rcpub-
licans Lost in November Elec-
ton, and What Democrats
Must Do to Keep From
Going on Their
Travels" Again.
lspecia1 TO The Times-pispatoh. ]

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Washington, D. c., December b.
Champ Clark. who probably will be the
next Speaker of the House, was to-day
asked TO answer several questions on
public affairs. The queries and his re-
plies follow:
brought about the Republican defeat?
Was the cost of living the most peril
nent cause?
A. July 3. 1910. wrote, in answer to
questions, an elaborate interview. in
which 1 predicted a Democratic VIC
tory In November. l then stated what
regarded as the cause of the Demo-
cratic victory, in which / predicted
these things.
First. The enormous and abnormal
majority of the popular vote which
President Taft received. which bred
Generalization among Republicans as
certainly as the rivers seek the sea.
Second. The fight In the House over
the rules, which split the Republicans
into two bitterly warning factions
Third The widespread dissatisfac-
ton with President Tafts administra-
ton.
Fourth The almost universal dis
satisfaction and disgust with the
Payne -Aldrich- smoot tariff bill.
Prediction FULFILLED,
Ny prediction of July 5 was fulfilled
literally on November s. and. !. believe
was fulfilled for the reason set forth
in the July interview. OF course. minor
causes operated here and there. Local
disturbances, feuds among Republl-
cans about post Offices and other items
of patronage helped US somewhat. The
high cost Of living aided US largely
and the voters attributed 1t partly at
least, to the tariff
&C. What should the Democrats
now do to retain their success?
A. In order to retain their success
Democrats should religiously.f so far as
in them lies, carry out the promises
made in order to win the election. No
other rule, of conduct will do to live
by. and no man or party can long hope
FOR success that does not live by 1t.
Tie people are entitled to that square
deal Of which WI hear so much and
see little.
Ga. II the Democratic party should
DO conservative rather than progress
slve, what would be the result to the
partyo
A. The words .'conservatlve'' and
progressive" as used in the publica-
tons speeches and conversations of
our day are rather hay in meaning
and need diagram to explain them.
Surely conservative" IS applied to
anybody except stand pat Republicans
does not mean that,a man or q party
shall occupy forever the same position
on all questions as Interchangeable in
their opinions as the Modes and the
Perslans were in their laws. Should
the Democrats perform any such
idiotic caper as that? This is a thing
incredible. They would not only he
relcgcked to their wanderings In tho
wilderness. but would richly deserve
to be, so relegatcd, But I do not be-
lieve they will be SO terelagetd for tho
reason that I do not
believe that they Will play the fool In
any such manner as their enemies de-
sire. Shakespeare says, Sweet are
tho uses OF adversely" That may or
maytnot be true; but surely Democrats
have had enough experience In the
hard school Of adversely to learn sonle-
.thing-indeed, to learn a good deal. !,
No Leaps I'm Dark.
on the other hand, surely to be
''progressive'' does not inlport that q.
man or party shall be continually
changing solely for the sake OF chansa
and making what BENJAMIN Disraeli
once described as "a leap In the dark
5ITTnnf 5niIcd IN nj feenthy pa pe.l -