The Penn's Grove record., 1911-01-06
GAGE APPROVES
POLITICAL UPSET
Former Secretary of Treasury
Thinks Defeat of Republicans
VIII Do Good.
PEOPLE FAVOR GOLDEN MEAN
Roosevelt Blamed by Both Factions
of Republican Party-caIlfornla's
Faulty Primary LaW-Sena-
tor ShiveIy on Waterway
way Plans.
BY WILLIS J. ABBOT.

BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.
Washington. - Lyman j. Gage
secretary of the treasury during the
first Mckinley administration, was
In Washington a few days ago attend
ing the meeting of the trustees Of the
Carnegie institute. MI. Gage was ohe
of the bankers in the last decade OF
the last century who took an active
and intelligent interest in politics. al
though it would be difficult to say with
any exactness whether he was a Re-
publican or a Democrat. That he Is
a pretty good observer of politics
seems to be fairly indicated by these
few remarks he made in chatting with
me the other day:
Il am not in public life any longer,
but l am still as keen a looker-on In
politics as you can find. The game is
Just as interesting to me as football
is to a boy, and l have almost reached
the point where l a root for either
side, though at the bottom of my heart
| am still a true Republican. But my
philosophy nov is that which actuated
Grover Cleveland after he was through
with public life. He and / were great
friends once. l made a visit to his
home at Buzzard's Bay for the express
purpose Of getting his point Of view
on public affairs; to learn what he
thought would follow the inevitable
defeat of the Democratic party in the
then pending election of 1896.
"He said to me: My friend, l do a
lot of fishing in my boat out yonder
and also a lot of thinking. My conclu-
sion is that the nation will not suffer
harm by the alternate victories of par
ties. I am convinced of the perpem-
ity of our democratic institutions and
l have implicit confidence in the sober
second judgment of the American
people,
Republican Defeat Wholesome.
Grover Cleveland was right in his
statement, though 1t seems to have
taken sixteen years for the American
people to get that sober second
thought. We have just seen a most
extraordinary political happening; one
that amounted to a revolution. But
what Of it? Individual politicians
have suffered defeat and modification
of their pride, but that does not touch
the nation in any vital spot. AS a
matter Of fact it is going to prove a
good thing to have the Republicans
get such a trouncing. Perhaps 1t was
too long coming to them. 1t is not
well for any party to enjoy so long a
lease of power. It breeds arrogance
and carelessness. Undoubtedly the
voters saw symptoms of this and con-
cluded to swing the pendulum to the
Democratic side.
There is n more thought in this
connection. At times the people go off
at a tangent, but they are sure to
right themselves in season. Admira-
ton of a spectacular politician, of
which we have two bright and shining
examples today, one on each side of
the political fence, will lead them to-
sanction extreme views of government,
but not for long. 1t is really the gold
mean that Americans favor and in
their hearts they are against radicals
and radicalism. For this reason | ex-
pect to see a big reaction favorable to
President Taft. He had the bad luck
to succeed one who was snowy and
brilliant and forever doing some dra-
matte trick. By contrast the admin
i~stration of Taft, able and sound and
following safe precedents, seemed
tame. Yet when the showdown came,
Roosevelt was rejected and now the
nation is turning to Taft in the friend
Hest way, and l believe his admins
tration will be as popular at its close
as it was unpopular at the end of it's
second year."
What Census Map Shows.
The director Of the census has pre-
pared a shaded map of the United
States showing the increase in popu-
lation Of the various states. 1t ought
to be a very popular document west
Of the Mississippi river. Nobody
would be surprised to see Maine, New
and Vermont showing Ell
Their no increase or a small decrease.
But 1t is surprising to find Indiana,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa and Mis-
souri, in the same class. But through
out the great west the increases run
from so per cent. upward. 1t is rather
striking, too, to find that of all the
southern states the one showing the
greatest proportionate increase Is
Florida, which has almost so per cent.
The immediate political Importance
of this showing hinges upon the size
of the next house Of representatives.
The present n numbers 391 mem
bers. With the 80, 900, 900 people we
now have the sixty-third congress-, un-
less there should be a material in.
crease in the ratio of representation.
will closely approach 425 representa-
tives. The sixty-second congress al
ready elected is Of course chosen ar.
cording to the present apportionment.
The great gain in the west and the
southwest is going to materially in
crease the political Importance of
those states. 1t is entirely true that
New York will gain seven congress-
men and Illinois, unless there shall be
A Warning.