Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-10-26

e. w. Hoch in Marion Record:
Personally the writer is neither an
insurgent nor standpat Republican.
He is Just a plain Republican, pro-
gressive as to principles and regu-
lar as to parties. l still believe in
independence in parties but not in
dependence Of parties. In a Repub-
lie parties are q necessity and we
get better government through par
ties than we can ever hope to get
without them. To destroy all party
fealty is to turn politics into q mis-
cradle personal scramble and put a
premium ON demagogism. Parties are
not perfect, nothing human is, but
we will always have them If we are
to get the best out OF government
And so, still believing in parties In
general and the Republican party in
particular, / am neither an insurgent
nor a standpat Republican, but Just
plain Republican favoring every
good thing but refusing to believe
that everything Is good because some
professional reformer says II Is good,
and refusing to believe 1t is bad be-
cause some standpatter says !. is
bad. I propose to have my own
opinions about things. am going to
keep out Of the camp Of the corpora
ton cormorants and the den Of DEM
agogues, for both are alike menace
to this country.
Nor should Republicans make the
egregious mistake Of playing INTO
the hands of the Democrats. for the
late congress proves that that party
is the same old moss-back, free
trade, retrogressive, anytthins-to-
beat-Grant concern 1t has always
been, and other recent events
strengthen the proof. The few men
who emerge from its ranks, occa-
sionally, torch in hand, trying to
blaze a new path for the party, soon
get lost in the wilderness and be-
come mere will-o'-wisps in the tang
led wildwood and marshy lowlands
of Democracy. Maine was turned over
to Democracy at the last election,
in the interest of reform, and the
saloon, banished for forty years, is
about to be restored, as the only
tangible result down to date. Demo-
cracy won in Indiana, with the same
reform slogan, and the repeal OF the
county option law is the penalty the
people pay for going off after a false
deity. Woodrow Wilson, probable
Democratic nominee for president,
has already thrown the usual sop at
the liquor interests by declaring that
prohibition is q moral and not a.
political question, (which means a
backset to this progressive movement
incalcuIable in its effect should he
be elected. Or take Champ Clark
next to Bryan, the best Democrat
of 'em all. Good fellow, all right
but what would this country be II
1t had been run the last fifty years
by its Champ Clarks? Why, Champ
is a rank free-trader, opposed to
civil service and in favor Of the old
Jacksonian spoils system. But who
put the scepter of power In mis-
hands? Democrats? setpndarily'
yes, primarily, no. Republicans with
more real than knowledge did 1t.
Was it necessary to enthrone a re-
dictionary Democrat in order to de-
throne a reactlonary Republican? !
do not believe 1t was. Is 1t neces-
sary, now, to oppose the nomination
of a progressive and deserving Re-
publican president and tear the par
ty to pieces in order to promote the
fortunes of an ambitious politician
and promote progressive principles?
I say no. Can this La Toilette move
ment have but one end-the retard-
ing of progressive government
through the success of the reaction
airy Democratic party? That is what
is means and that is all it does mean.
Let the gentlemen who are encour-
aging this movement in this state I'M
derstand that there are thousands OF
Republicans in Kansas Just as hon
est and just as progressive as they
are who have the situation clearly
analysed and who know perfectly
we'll what their movement means.
HOW IMPROVEMENTS PAY.