Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-08-26
REPUBLICAN SOAPEGOATs.

This seems to be the open season fo
Republican scapeeoats, and every G. o. P
patriot is cunning for one or more. Ir
olden times scapegoats were driven into
the wilderness and the weight of the sin:
they bore presumably caused them to
perish In these modern times our polt-
ical scapegoats are driven into the political
wilderness as manifestation to the people
of the virtue and integrity of the drivers,
or as an example to others to keep in with
the powers that be.
The open season for cunning for Repub-
lican scapeeoats is always just before cleo
tion-their hides have more political value
at that time, especially if the portents of
the election indicate that it will be close
and doubtful.
The summer capital at Beverly seems to be
the headquarters for the scapegoat hunters,
and such statesmen as Cannon. Aldrich
and Ballinger goodness knows who
besides the dire exigencies and sins of the
party may require-have been selected as
the living SdCflnce.
An evidently inspired dispatch from
Beverly sent out by the Associated Press
on August 18th tells the tale of woe and
the probable fate Of the scapeeoats There
is striking similarity in the plans of the
Administration to the Jewish ceremonial
described in Leviticus The scapeeoat
fhaFQin hod all ~, - a..
people, and is sent by the hand of safe
man" into the wilderness where there are
no people. Senator Crane seems to be the
safe man" in the ceremonial now under
way, but there must be grave doubt
whether those selected can bear out a
modicum of the sins of the Republican
party. 1t will be necessary to hear from
the Colonel and PinchOt and Garfield be-
fore deciding on the efficiency of the vca-
rious sacrifice.
Perhaps, when it comes to the pinch,
neither Cannon nor Aldrich nor Ballinger
will want to be the goats. They may sue-
gest that other Republicans could play the
part better. All of those selected as goats
show signs of characterization. Uncle Joe
says he is fit as fiddle" and expects
the Republicans of his district to reflect
him; and the Republican caucus and not
the Administration will decide whether
he shall be reelected as Speaker. Senator
Aldrich, at the request of the safe man."
has made statement that will bring on
more controversy with Senator Bristow,
which indicates that this goat business
may be carried too far and that he is still
live political entity. Ballinger-here
may be found the real and only scape-
goat-will gladly leave the cabinet after
the majority of the committee of investi-
cation has given him coat of whitewash.
The safe man" will escort him to the
wilderness in his whitened garb, after first
parading him through the Western States
as the real goat of the Administration.
These are the plans of the Administra-
ton, but perhaps the popular appetite for
goats will not be appeased by the Taft
banquet and will demand more scapegoats
before election day. 1t is quite within the
realm of probabilities that in casting out
these goats to the ravening wolves, that
are politically termed insurgents" the
demand for the play to be repeated will
be so insistent that only President Taft
and the safe man" will be left to tell the
tale.