Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-10
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POLITICAL LANDSIIDES,
(From the Springfield Republican.

Ctrom the Springfield Republican,
Political landslidcs are usually unex-
pected. If they came when their ar
rival was confidently anticipated, they
would not he landslides precisely. They
might be something equally disastrous to
one side or the other. but the quality Of
being utterly amazing would be absent
from them. No one can possibly be as
tonished by an event that occurs as adj
vertised. There has been so much talk
of democratic landslide that no one.
consequently, should expect to see it ar
rive exactly as its prophets have pro-
claimed There are likely to be surprises
for all, even for the prophets
Yet the ease with which one can nrove.
on paper that a democratic landslide is
now due captivatcs democratic politi-
cians, 1t is % Years since the last SINH
lar phenomenon occurred. In 1890, the
republicans Were driven from Office in a
large number Of northern States. and the
democrats gained control of Congroe Is BY
an immense majority. Conditions did not
then seem nearly so unfavorable to the
party in power as they do to-day The
republican party was united and conf
dent The first two years of the Harri-
son administration had been fairly sue
cessfui, while in Congress a great repub-
mean leader had ncen developed in the
person Of Speaker Reed Mr.. Reeds
campaign tour Of the country In the two
months preceding the election OF 1890 was
continuous ovation. No one, on the
eve or the polling. had tho remotest idea
OF the tremendous democratic sweep that
was 10 come. For there had been a long
peEou OF very closely contested presi-
oeht'ai elections in the country, begin
hlhS in lS'6 and the two parties had been
so closely matched since Tildon had re-
organized The democracy that overwhelm-
ing disasters. country wide in their scope
and almost annihilating in their ,mmedi-
ate effect, had seemed too improba BILE
even to consider.
If landslides proceeded by logic, or by
mathematical laws. what occurred in
1879 should now happen in even greater
intensity, inasmuch as the Republican
party Of 1910 IL a hundred-fold more dis
organized and distraught than it was
two decades ago. The tariff was then
an issue even more than 1t is to-day. and
as the event proved, the people revolted
against 1t because of the Increase Of
pii''o NiiitH the enactment of
the Mckinley law. To-day We have an
era of high prices, quite as hard for the
masses to bear and for which the republi-
can tariff law is held partly responsible
But, aside from this. the political condi-
lions OF the Republican party are at
present far worse than they were in
Harrison's administration, for while the
party leaders then presented n united
harmonious front on all the great issues
the leaders to-day are consplcuously
fighting at cross purposes.
MT Roosevolts reference TO the tariff
law In his speech at Cleveland, Saturday
oHers a remarkable illustration of the
campaign, referring to the plank I'm the
ONO republican platform indorsing the
Payne A ldrich bill. Mr. Roosevelt blunt
~ declared that the party leaders who
framed the bill had Jagged behind tho
people, And while the republican ex-
president thus crlticses tho work of his
own republican successor and the party
leaders In Congress. one of .ss cabinet
ministers of President Taft. In his re-
cent speeches In New York State, has
INDUCED in sharp criticism of Mr. Roose-
velts new nationalism. Not since It's or
iglnal organization, over half Il century
ago. has tho Republican party fought an
important Ganaalsa ~ HsnaS ~ wax