The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-09-18
A Hopeful View of Missouri Politics.

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throw Of protection and the thrc atened
free trade system which menaces the
farmers and the wage earners and the
industries Of the state under the new
tariff law, the dangers seen in the pro-
posed currency law, the disjntegraticn
so apparent within the progressive
patty, as we'll as the disruption threat
ened within the democratic party Of
the state, have produced extraordinary
political conditions in Missouri and
started earnest political talk in every
community.
Public men at the state capital,
quick to note anything that shows
which way the political wind blows,
have quit guessing and are giving seri,
ous consideration to recent actual polit-
ical events which must affect both Of
the big parties Of the state; for, be it
understood, intelligent public men no
longer concede that the progressive
party holds an important place in the
politics Of Missouri. Signs Of its final
disintegration are multiplying so rapidly
it is already viewed as a corpse and its
disposition has been reiened to polit-
ical undertakers. There is not enough
OF it left for practical politicians to
trade on. Governor Major has at least
two progressive appointses on bi-par-
tlsan boards who must soon qualify as
republicans or lose their jobs, because
they will not much longer be the rep
resenta,ives Of a political party in the
meaning Of the law. The news from
Maine last week dispelled all reason.
able doubt about the disintegration and
early disappearance Of the party"
that made Judge Nortoni think he was
running for governor last year
Every reasonable republican in Mis-
souri, il we'll informed, knows that very
few real republicans supported the
new party last year with any intention
Of permanently abandoning the reput-
lican party. Half Of the republicans
in Missouri who voted for Roosevelt
did so because they preferred him and
expected his election and his subse
quent control OF the republican party.
Many voted for him and supported
the new party because they we're per.
suaded that the national republican
convention was not honestly organized
or conducted fairly; and still others
followed the new flag just because it
was new and shiny. The year that
has elapsed since the birth OF the pro-
gressive party has not developed the
iuiant. 1t has no teeth and its pate is
still soft at the top. 1t has never been
husky, and, having no mothers milk
to suck, it was kept alive by the bottle.
The bottle holders have ceased to re-
plenish the milk or TO hold the bottle
to the infants lips, so the baby born
in August Of last year and who kicked
up a noisy rumpus till November has
since declined. The loss OF 1000
votes in congressional district in
Maine, under conditions thought to be
most favorable FOR it, has sounded the
death-knell Of the progressive party
in the nation and given it case OF in
curable collie in Missouri. 1t is pass
ing out. The republicans who sup
ported ii in 1912 are falling into line
all over the state as protection repub-
licans ready Tor determined fight
against free trade and low tariff dem
ocrats.
Another political event that has
stirred Missouri is the appointment Of
Colin Selph as postmaster at ST. Louis.
Viewed from the ordinary standpoint
it was a bad appointment for President
Wilson 10 make, because Selph has
always trained with and represented
the Butler element Of the democracy
in St. Louis and was therefore not at all
acceptable TO the element in the city
and state most devoted to and most in
harmony with Mr.. Wilson. For that
reason Selph was rejected at the first
mention Of his name at the oost-ofFice
department and at the White House.
But his appointment, viewed from the
standpoint Of democratic party interests