The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-05-12
while the Republicans are Handicap.
ned. tine Democrats are Free TO
Act


IN it, efforts to accomplish reforms
the Republican party liz badly hand
fcapped by a large element In It,
ranks which continually opposes every
progressive proposition. Though II
includes many thousands of earnest
ana patriotic men, their influence ID
neutraIized by the large body of "old
liners who demand that the party
stand pat" There are reactionar1es
in both parties, but q tar larger num-
Der among the Republicans than In
the Democratic ranks.
GOV. woodrow Wilson states moth
Ing more than an apparent fact when
he says that the present moment OF
fers a greater and larger opportunity"
to the Democrats than to the Repub-
Iicans, because "the Democratic party
as whole - freer to move and to
act than the Republican party IL, and
is held by a smaller and weaker
body OF representatives OF the things
that are and have been" One reason
WIN the Republicans are more closely
filled with what Is known AZ the in
terests" is that those who seek favors
and influence legislation array them
selves naturally with the party in
been in control OF the Government,
except for brief periods, for fifty years.
NJ has made its cardinal policy pro
tection," which doles out traiff du-
ties an favors 1t looked out for its
friends as the politicians say. II
has dealt out offices, contracts, appro-
priations, tariff rates, pensions and
honors, and thus has given rich Re
turns for the millions that have been
noured into its campaign chests and
the tremendous influence Of the big
manufacturers and financiers that has
been exerted for its candidates. ~
time the Interests" virtually took
possession of the party, and It Is hard
to break their grip on the organiza-
ton. The Democrats have such prob
lens to meet They are poor in funds
and in political power; but they have
few political debts to pay and are COM
paratively free.
The very fact that they hold few of
the Offices puts them in position
where they can successfully abolish
useless places, can reorganize depart
ments and bring about genuine econ
omy III government. Every time the
Republicans abolish an Office or cut
down a salary they turn out one OF
their own men or cut down his COM
pensation. III either case this causes
bitter resentment. "A man who fails
to get a position may be disappointed,
but not nearly SO much as the man
who holds the position and Is thrown
out Of it. The Democrats OF the
House can 60 about the work OF in
vestigating the executive departments
with freer hand than any Republican
President Or Congress could do. They
are not hampered by the necessities
of protecting friends OF adjusting jobs
to pay political obligations. The
Democratic politicians are hungry, but
they will be glad 10 take whatever
positions they can get after the Re
organization is completed. The House
committees can probe boldly into the
postal service, the cost Of the Philip
pines, naval expenditures, Alaskan
lands, or whatever they like, without
feeling that they may uncover some
thing that will discredit their party
or discomfit their friends But the
Republicans have been in power for
fourteen years and are responsible
not only for the present administra-
ton but for all that was done during
the Mckinley period and the Roose-
welt regime,as well as during the term
OF Mr.. Taft.
The Democrats are undoubtedly
strong position. Only year ago it
seemed as il the Republican Insur-I
gents would take the lead, and millions
looked to them as the hope of the ma
ton. But conditions have changed,
and the people realize that for gem
uine and lasting reforms they cannot
look to any element of the Republic
cans. III the Democratic Senators on
" act with the same wisdom and en-
ergy as the Democrats Of the House,
the party will be likely to attract not
only the Independents but the reform
element Of the Republicans, who will
see that they can hope for nothing
from their own party.-From Balti-
more Sun.