The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-07-18
AFTER THE ELECTION.

AS James Bryce pointed out, TWEEN
ty years or so, this is a government
by public opinion. Wherever mel
talk politics there public opinion i:
being formed.
Beside the road where two farm
wagons meet, at the noon hour il
shop or factory, in the country store
in street car or train, around the table
in boarding house or home, on hotel
porch, golf links, or in the bleachers
before the game begins, politics will
be discussed. Discussion will con-
tribute to the formation of opinion
on public matters. And that is a
contribution to government-uno
fetal yet real.
The Republic would like to suggest
a topic which should be taken up,
from time to time, in these impromp-
tn summer schools of politics. AS
between the three leading candidates
for the Observation-Disclosures Will
son, nominated by a united dem
ocracy; William H. Taft, nominated
by the asserting republican remnant,
and Theodore Roosevelt, whose NOM
ination by himself is subject to rati-
fcation by motley and indefinite
nstituency-Which would stand the
best chance of heading an effective
government? Much of the work of
lawmaking and law enforcing con-
Germs matters which are not at issue
between the parties and simply re-
quires good understanding between
congress and the president What
are the prospects for such an under
standing in view Of the three candi-
dacies?
The election of President Taft
would mean the triumph Of the re-
dictionary element in the republican
party-the Paynes, the Roots, the
Cannons, the Fairbankses. 1t could
only be secured by such an overturn-
ing as would insure republican
house of the stand-pat variety. This
would mean restoration of Cannon
and the Cannon rules. Once more
the real ruler at Washington would
be the irresponsible despot of the
house, and the more progressive
wing of the party would be helpless.
We know what that situation
brings forth with President Taft in
he chair, for we have had it. It
produced the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bill, the deadlock over reciprocity
and the Winona speech.
Now there are standpatters who !
are honest, conscientious and not al
lied with the forces of organized |
greed. The protective tariff, for ex-
ample, owes it's strength to the num-
Der of people who never profited a
cents worth by it. The honest stand
patter may well stop and ask him
self what the result would be of
heading off all really constructive,
legislation for four years
BY the restoration of the czardom of
Cannon in the house.
He may we'll ask himself what the
result of sitting on the safety valve
would be, in the present temper of
he American people. He may we'll
'sk himself whether he prefers po-
itical progress achieved in a rational
way, at the hands Of men of &C {
lnowledged ability and worth, or ex- j
,losively. Ii
While few things are less likely, $
he American people undoubtedly
las power to elect Theodore Roose- II
elt president once more. Suppose a
should, we know what would hap c
en to the government as whole. v
t would cease to be whole Con- r
ress and the president would fight. t
There is not room at Washington Z
)r the lind Of cong, ess t'e constitu- j.
on pltviCcs for. Ard just IS the
epublic appeals to the honest, high i,
rincipled conservative who supports u
aft to stop and consider the con- t.
resslonal situation should he be is
ected, so it appeals to the honest, c
radicals to stop and il
,nsider how if Roosevelt chould be a
ected any progressive legislation n
'uld be accomplished, given Mr. n
Ooseyelt's capacity for quarreling le
18th congress and the various ele-
ents that would be there repre- t.
'nted. Then, if congress should W
owe intractable, what would Theo- D.
ore Roosevelt do next and what lie
Guild be left of the fabric of our Sc
'v9rnluent when he had finished do fl
6 it? al
Now as to Woodrow Wilson
is elected-and all signs point w
at way-what sort of a congress in
III he find at the other end of Penn
lvania avenue and what will prob N
lily result from the combination. d.
We are not reduced to guesswork. ca
Wilson is elected the house that tt
i'll be chosen at the same time will sE
} much the same body now in ses- ca
on. Under the speakership of in
lamp Clark it has been the most We
fcient house since the civil war.
le democratic platform of 1912 is di
It mere PROMISE; it is simply a re- tn
ction of the spirit and the acts of to
e democratic house. Jc
AS for the senate, thirty-one new
majors will be elected by the legis-
lures chosen this fall A change of
e votes in the senate would make an
e body democratic, even if the one GU
cancy now existing should be ID
led by a republican And aiming be