The Washington herald., 1912-12-08
THE POLITICAL SITUATION,


There is one feature OF the political
situation which is not being overlooked
BY the men who hope to see the Re-
publican party regain its prestige This
feature is the important part which
minor offices play in keeping a politi-
cal organization together.
If present conditions continue it is
not alone the Federal administration
which will be under Democratic con-
troll With a divided Republican party
in practically every State it will be
impossible to prevent the Democrats
from capturing the Govenorship and
all the State offices two years hence
in every Commonwealth where the
Democrats are not already in power.
More than this. the county admins
trations will become Democratic, and
Republicans and Progressives alike will
wander among the husks while the
Democrats feed at every wel-hlled
crib.
This is not a pleasant prospect, es-
pecially to those men who regard a
; county commissionership as really of
more importance to their personal in
terest than the Presidency of the Unit
ed State These men-and they are
located in every county-are vitality in
fGested in seeing that unity is Sc
cured There are men in public life
to-day whose future political career
depends upon the welding together of
. fJtbe diverse Republican factions. Take
Senator Bristow, for instance. He de-
sires reelection, but unless he can
bring his party in Kansas together
again he will be between the devil and
the deep sea. In the last election the
regular Republicans in Kansas would
not support the Roosevelt faction, nor
would the latter show any considera-
ton toward their former political
: brethren If this breach continues
p III Senator Bristow might just as well
u look forward to a Democratic success
sor. There would be no hope for him
3 He would fall between two stools
.o9N And the dilemma which is con-
:. q fronting the Senator from Kansas is
. facing every other oficeholder or
sawould-be oficeholder. Many of them
II are waiting to see which way the cat
stf'will jump. In other words, they are
S5going to remain quiescent until they
-Hlsee which wing of the Republican party
1aZSeems most likely to be uppermost The
5EPfogressive organization is under the
s1qeadership of most astute politician
s2%ho appreciates the psychological ef-
feet Of action upon the human mind.
There has hardly been a day since
ss-fhe election which has lacked evidence
sc 6f vitality on the Progressive side The
".sPIeposed conference in Chicago, the
that the organization
hsAviH continue energeticalIy at work, the
establishment Of a bureau in Washing
S-.tnn to spread Progressive doctrines
kSshesc arc but few of the agencies
: which have been utilized for impressing
= The public mind There is wisdom in
;osfafS course. People in general have
:, The sheep-like instinct of following
each other, and if the crowd is ap-
20 farently moving toward the Progress
Ss,siiye camp. there will be no trouble
erin adding to the procession This is
The way of the world. In politics, like
: gin everything else, it is worth while
2 70 know human nature.
sIGs
sTs as1n numerous informal conferences,
sssbeld during the past week, the Re-
sdpubiican leaders have fully discussed
LS 1lhis phase of the situation. There is
sv,F desire on their part to let the coun-
% fry know as soon as possible that the
- Republican party is not down and out
yENationaf committeeman and campaign
o. managers either by accident or design,
have been in Washington for several
badays, and have consulted with Presi-
lssdent Taft and Chairman Hilles as to
sosthe absolute necessity OF making some
demonstration of activity. Up to the
~ T.present time no definite plan has been
adopted, although all of the leaders
s1oaTe urging prompt decision. There is
asarnuch work TO be done and it can be
sd,nsde effective work If it is not DONE
tofhe Progressive wing of the party will
6,have public sentiment turned in its di-
rection. Experience has shown that
nsit IS. easier to make public sentiment
sbsFhan it IS to change it. This being
S,yfhe case, Chairman Hilles may be ex-
e. pected TO meet the situation with his
characteristic energy and promptitude
EoW