Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-11-29

sary to enable him to make the show
Ing he did ate the Chicago convention,
but the contribution of SO large a
sum by such men was great burden
for him to carry during the campaign,
and the prominence given to Mr. Per.
kins alienated a great many progress
sives who might otherwise have BEEN
drawn tStha Cclorel's side. 4
Q After the showing made by the new
party its members ought to have no
in capturing the Organiza,
ton Of the old party, if they desire
to do so, but they may prefer to wait
and see what the Democrats are 60
ing to do, for the future of the new
party as a separate organization must
depend very largely on the manner
in which the Democratic party meets
the responsibilities of its new posi-
ton.
As for Mr.. Roosevelt himself, all
depends upon the attitude he now
takes toward the problems that now
confront us. If he still aspires to a
third term, he viii prove dead
weight to the new organization rather
than an inspiration. In so far as hui
man calculation is possible, the third
term idea seems TO have received its
quietus, and the chances are, that be-
fore the next election the states will
be ratifying an amendment to the
constitution limiting the president to
single term. If Mr.. Roosevelt lays
aside his ambition and determines to
devote himself to the unselfish prop
agation of progressive ideas, he will
soon recover what he has lost in
public esteem and make himself
moral force in the nation. A mans
moral force depends very largely up
OF the unselfishness of his efforts,
and this rule applies TO Mr., Roosevelt
as well as to others.
The ex-president is man Of great
ability and wonderful energy; he has
an enthusiastic fOllowing-many of
his supporters being almost idolatroIS
in their attachment. If he will give
them a chance to believe that he is
working for the public, their admira-
ton will know no bounds. Time will
show whether Mr.. Roosevelt is will
ing to enlist under the banner of an
other and fight in the ranks, or
whether he will insist on carrying
the standard himself.
The Democratic party has won a
great victory-not greater than was
claimed, but greater than most of the
Democrats expected-for claims usu.
ally outrun expectations. The triumph
is complete and the responsibility is
commensurate with it. 1t is too early
yet to anylize the returns and deter
mine just what causes have been pc
tential in contributing to the results.
q 1t is too early even to compare
with accuracy the real strength Of the
parties. We do not know yet whether
the Democratic party has made ma
terial gain in the number Of its vot
ars, or whether lis success is due EN-
tirely to the division in the Republi
can party. If the complete returns
show large gain in the Democratic
vote it will furnish encouragement t
believe that the party has made 4;
permanent advance. If, however, tn,
victory must be credited wholly to
division in the Republican party, tn,
Democratic party will have evel
more reason to be on its good behav
'ior, for failure to rise to the re
quirements of the occasion will nc
only disappoint the Democrats tu
will reunite the Republicans.
Governor Wilson showed remark
: able wisdom and discretion in dealii'
with The problems that arose durin
the campaign; he has more than fu
filled the expectations of those VIII
favored his nomination. His progres
.sivenesS has been more and NOR
!, emphasized as he has taken up tn
questions with which he has had t
deal, and he will. enter the Offic
with the confidence not only of hi
own party but of the opposition a
well.
There is no Disgusting the fact, he
, ever, that while the great body {
the Democratic party is progressive
earnestly and actively progressive
there is a reactionary element whic
has more influence than its number
justify. This element, of course, wi
seek to retard progress, but it will
: opposed by the rank and file of th
party and by the progressive leader
The very fact that the new party
now second in numbers and enthus