The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-06-05
DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL.

President Wilson is keeping his
word in regard to New Jersey. When
he resigned the governorship of New
Jersey to enter upon his duties as
president of the United States, he re-
marked that New Jersey was not far
from Washington and that he would
return if the 'old gang attempted
to regain control of the machinery
of the state. The "old gang went
to work as soon as he departed from
Trenton, and it succeeded in pre-
venting the adoption Of the reforms
which the party had promised. True
to his word, he went back, and he
has been giving the county an illus
tration of his fighting qualities. He
does not mince matters when he
talks. He understands the polite
language used in diplomacy but he
also understands the more direct
language employed in political
fight. He has left no doubt of his
intention to live up to the RESPONSE
bilities of citizenship in New Jersey
as we'll as up to the requirements of
the national office to which his coun-
try has elevated him.
He also understands that the dem
ocratic party is on trial and that
it can not hope for long lease of
power unless it makes good. Here
are his words:
But I want to say few words
about the democratic party. l want
everybody to realize that l have not
been taken in by the results of the
last national election. The country
did not go democratic in November.
It was impossible to go republican
because it could not tell which kind
of republican to go. The only hope
full and united instrument through
which it could accomplish its pur-
poses was the democratic party.
There are certain things which we
want done, the country said, not GER
tain persons elevated.
There we're certain things which
we wanted demonstrated, such as
that the government of the United
States can not be controlled by prl-
vate interests. Now, the democratic
party is going to have try at max
ing these things successful, and II 1t
does not succeed we are not going to
have another try
He is wise in keeping the facts be-
fore the public. Conditions became
so bad that the republican party,
upon full consultation, decided that
it was not competent to remedy 1T.
The leaders could not agree. Most
of the republicans admitted that
something ought to be done, but half
of them thought that the remedy
proposed was worse than the OIL
sease, so, by mutual consent, they
agreed to turn the job over to the
democrats. They went through the
form of fighting each Other-the two
factions did-but they must have
known that the division made it pos
sible for neither side to win. They
thus confessed that whatever re-
formation was necessary must be left
for the democrats to devise and
bring about
With a clear understanding of his
task. President Wilson has undertake
en- the work, and that he is succeed
ing admirably, most of the republl-
cans even will admit. One sure
proof of the acceptibility of his eff
forts is found in the fact that the re-
publican factions are not able to act
together to obstruct his plans But
the promise of success is the greater
because the president understands
that the democratic party is on trial,
and that the same memorable law
that drove the republican party
from power when it's subserviency to
Wall Street became fully understood,
will operate for the overthrow OF the
democratic party if that party per
mits special privilege and private in
terests to dull it's sensibilitles and
defeat it's high purposes. 1t is for
tunate for the party and for the
country as we'll, that the nations
president has such clear apprec1a-
ton of the work to which he has
been called.-The Commoner.