Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
POLITICS.

The past year has witnessed one of
| those great political revolutions which at
intervals sweep over the United States,
| changing the destinies of parties, altering
the political map. RELOCATING to private
life men long prominent in the public eye
and bringing new men to the fore.
The overturn of 1910 differed from some
| of those in the past in that it was not
| unexpected. Premonitory signs were visi-
BILE early in the year. and thoughtful
politicians in both parties professed to
see the change coming. To be sure, its
| magnitude and far-reaching effect were
greater than had been anticipated. and in
! that respect it was a surprise to every
one.
| No one had contemplated the possibility
! of the state of Maine. which had not
elected a democrat to the United States
both branches of the legislatures; few of
! the political wseacreS ami prophets
dreamed of New York state. gerryman-
dered'' as it had been under republican
rule as to it's legislative districts, going
democratic: the most reckless prognosti-
Gators hardly ventured to picture New
Jersey with a democratic Legislature:
since 1893 West Virginia had been a high
tariff state. and it was not deemed prob.
able that it would show such change of
sentiment. yet the political revolution
swept the dominant party out of power
and the democrats into power in those
states
1t went further and elected a democratic
governor in Connecticut, democratic
legislature and governor in Ohio and in
Indiana: turned the republicans out of
the legislature in Missouri and in Ne
braSka.
Democrats Capture House.
the congressional districts throughout the
country. From a republican majority of
forty-three in the present Congress to
democratic majority of sixty-two for the
Sixty-second Congress Is a far cry in
politics. The slaughter of republicans
throughout the eastern states was terri
fic. Democrats were elected to the House
In districts that for years had been re-
publican in Maine. Massachusetts. New
York. MARYLAND. West Virginia. Ohio. In
DIANA Illinois and the far west.
But these were not the only political
changes Of the year. In states that were
so rockribbeG in their republicanism as
to fOrego the hope of electing democrats
to Congress there was a change in the
republican party. A spiri. Of progressive
ness was manifested. The people ex-
pressed their disapproval of reactionary
and "standpat" principles. In many
places where they did not choose to elect
a democrat they turned out the reaction
aries and put in progressives.
New Hampshire elected a progressive
governor and legislature Michigan
turned out the standpat Burrows from
the Senate and sent young Townsend.
who had followed Roosevelt: Iowa and
Wisconsin and Minnesota and the Dako-
tas declared with added emphasis for
progre4ssiveness. The state of Washing
ton selected as senator through it's prima-
ries Miles Poindexter, who had been one
Of the most active progressves in the
House. California was progressive, and.
indeed all Of the intermOuntain cOun-
try.
Thus the revolution. as between the
two parties and the reformation within
the republican party. indicated most
clearly and pronOuncedly a widespread
dissatisfaction with old principles and
methods and with the men in power.
Many causes were assigned for it. One
mans guess was as good as anothe! q.
and for weeks after the election people
discussed the revolution from different
viewpoints.
Some claimed that dissatisfaction with
the new tariff law was responsible. 9th
ers insisted that it was the result of the
existence Of spirit of restlessness, a de-
sire for a change. and that the revolution
was due anyhow"
Miss Democracy Has Hopes.
The first immediate result of the cleo
tions of November was to stimulate the
democrats into renewed hope of carrying
the country for the presidency in 1912.
Democratic presidential timber was dis
covered in several states-Harmon in
Ohio, Marshall in Indiana, Folk in Mis-
souri, Woodrow Wilson in New Jersey,
Dix in New York and Simeon Baldwin in
Connecticut were marked by the politi-
clans as presidential possibilities.
1t was recognized that the first step to-
ward success in 1912 must be wise legis-
lation by the House in the next Con-
gress. 4 general conference of democrats
was called to meet in Baltimore January
II to talk over policies
In the meantime, the republicans seemed
stunned by their overwhelming defeat.
The close of the year found the republican
party in Congress resting upon it's oars,
drifting and apparently waiting for the
democrats to come in and have their try
at national legislation.