Semi-weekly herald., 1912-11-11
NO LANDSLIDE FOR WILSON.

While 1t is true that many are pleased
with the results of the recent election
II is also true that there were many
disappointed In the results
Along with the Democrats are many
Republicans and others who desired that
the man who should be elected presi-
dent should be supported by a majority
vote OF the people. There was never
any doubt In the minds of those who
understood the political situation that
Wilson would under our system receive
n majority of the electoral college, but
the Democrats of the nation had hoped
that he would receive the popular vote,
without the popular vote there is a
loss of prestige. IT is case of the mi
nority selecting a man to rule over the
majority.
1t is not to be understood that the ma
jority OF the people, though they were
not in favor of Wilson and Democrat
ic congress. will In any way oppose
them In the carrying out of their plans.
but 1t does mean that the majority Will
not take the same interest and be will
ing to shoulder part of the RESPONSE
bility. 1t is always a handicap to be
selected by majority vote to rule over
"A majority.
No statistician could figure out less
satisfactory result for the Democrats
That they would get at least IA minority
vote that would carry with the electoral
college has never been seriously doubted
by any one of any party who took time
to understand the situation, but there
were many who felt that Wilson was
not the choice of the majority OF the
people as was Mckinley. Roosevelt and
Taft and the election confirmed their be
lief.
II means this. that he will he watched
with critical eyes and IL he fails to
accomplish what he and his party have
promised he Will at once lose his place in
the minds Of the people as successful
ruler 1t was claimed by all parties that
Wilson was inexperienced and that he, II
elected. would prove unsuccessful. For
this reason he has great task before
him and all should give him plenty OF
time and the benefit of every doubt.
Already the politicians are olamoring
for seats In the cabinet This will result
In some friction the best he can do. No
matter who will be appointed some body
must be left out and some must of course
feel sighted. This has always had more
or less to do with the smooth sailing
of president. Jealousies arise among
the leaders and this by the time four
years have passed causes opposition In
sections OF the country where otherwise
1t would not exist.
Some of the Democratic papers and
even n few Republican papers write of
the recent election being a landslide for
the Democrats when, as a matter of fact.
there was anything but n landslide for
Wilson. A landslide for Wilson would
have brought him the popular vote, No
where In history do we have an account
of n landslide for man or n party when
the popular vote was not given.
The election in this respect was n dis
appointment to both Democrats and RE-
publicans as would have been better had
1t been landslide and carried with Il
the popular vote of the country
According to the figures given out now
by the Democratic politicians and statis-
tlcians Wilson has not made as popular
race as did Bryan In 1905 when Bryan
was at his worst when running against
Taft. The figures given out now show
that Wilson has polied something like
1000 or perhaps a little more than Bry-
an did In 1908. II should be remembered
that the vote OF the country has In
creased in the last four years between
|. cocoon and e,0oo.Oo0 and Wilson should
have received about 10000 of that In or
der to make his vote equal TO that of
Bryan In 1905.
Then again consider the circumstances
that forced thousands and thousands Of
votes to him regardless of choice In
California there was no Taft electors to
be voted for and Wilson got the Taft
vote as rebuke to the forced condi-
lions. In Idaho there was no Roosevelt
electors because of forced conditions and
lhe Roosevelt voters went over to Wilson
iy the thousands ms a rebuke to the con-
t'tlons In South Dakota there were no