The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-13
REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS.


The Republican party has weather.
ed good many perilous storms and
it is not likely to go on the rocks in
the year 1910. Nevertheless, there
are several black clouds on the po-
litical horizon that may develop into
something of gale before the year is
many months older. A considerable
part of this storm centers around the
head of Speaker Joseph G. Cannon,
and if he were the only one to suffer
there need be no great lamentation.
Speaker Cannon does not represent a
high order of craftsmanship. He is a
type of machine politician that right
fully is passing out of popular favor.
The sooner the party is rid of him the
better for the party. He is not in
sympathy with modern, progressive
ideas, and with the great power that
his office gives, he is in a position to
do much harm.
So far as the outbreak or the "in-
surgents" against Cannonism is con-
cerned, they will have much sympa-
thy throughout the country. In the
Central and Western States there is
much political unrest and great re-
sentiment is shown toward the
"Standpat" element of the Republican
,Dt,fx ,.,
be ignored with safety and if the
House organization or the administra-
ton attempts to discipline the anti
Cannon Republicans it will do so at
it's peril. If popular vote could be
taken today on the Speakership, MI
Cannon probably would be one of the
worst beaten men in the political his
tory of the country. There exists in
the East as we'll as in the West, pro-
found distrust of Cannon and his type
of public men both in the House and
the Senate.
That there are possibilities of mis-
chief in the Ballinger-Pinchot contro-
versy is very plan. No course was
left for President Taft 10 pursue but
to discharge Forester Pinchot for his
fragrant INSTRUMENTATION. For a man
guilty of corrupt practices, Secre-
tary Ballinger shows a surprising
eagerness to be investigated. Ger
tainly the President was deceived in
his man if he chose rascal for his
Secretary of the Interior. A long and
searching investigation, involving the
whole matter of puuiic land grants
will be held soon. 1t must and will
be thorough investigation for the
country is in no mood for superficial
treatment
The Journal hopes, and expects, to
see Secretary Ballinger eXonerated.
If he cannot clear himself of charges
of financial dishonor, then he will be
obliged to resign and the result can
not fail to be embarrassing to the
Taft administration.
A Congress must be chosen this
fall. At the close of the present Con-
gress the Republican party will have
been in control of the House uninter-
ruptedly for a period of sixteen years.
The Democratic party is still broken
and demoralized, and it has been
since the rise of William ]. Bryan,
and the only possibility of the choice
of a Democratic House is through
Republican discussions. The Payne
tariff law has not satisfied a large
section of the country as a thorough
revision according to party promises
previously made. The increasing
cost of the necessities of life is be-
coming more and more burdensome
and while the tariff may not be re-
sponsible In any considerable degree
for this increase, it furnishes thu
Democrats with plausible issue o
which they are quite likely to avail
themselves.
While the chances still favor Re
publican success, it must be admitte,
that the outlook is not altogether re
assuring.