Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1913-01-25
BY Frank A. Munsey.

What l am saying on this political
subject Is wholly as a suggestion,
nothing more. am throwing out the
thought for what 1t is worth, throw.
ing 1t out for consideration by those
of the Republican and Progressive
parties to whom an efficient and pow
erful amalgamated organization would
mean more than party prejudice, or
prejudice In favor Of an empty party
name.
Wilson was elected President In
November by total vote OF $780,
O63. The combined vote Of Roosevelt
and Taft was 7,6OS,O96, or a plural
ity over Wilson Of 1906 ,033. A com
bination of the Republican and Pro-
gressive parties, II 1t could be
brought about, would make the ANAL
gamated organization the dominant
political force In the country.
AS independent parties. each is in
hopeless minority as compared with
the Democratic party. To continue
as distinct entities means to continue
for an indefinite time in the minority
trenches, perhaps for a very long
time. l say perhaps" because in
politics nothing Is certain. The drift
of individuals from one to the other
of the minority parties, or from the
majority party to one or both of the
minority parties. may before the ex-
piration Of the incoming Administra-
ton change the relative position Of
all. 1t Is not probable, however, that
the enormous lead Of the Democrat
ic party over either the Republican
or the Progressive party will disap-
pear The margin of nearly two to
one Is far too great.
A quick sure way Of overcoming
the Democratic supremacy would be
through an alliance If the Republic
can and the Progressive parties. In
deed, this Ia the only apparent way
it is likely to happen in the immed-
late or near future. But Is 1t possi-
BILE to bring about such a union?
l don't believe it is. If it Ia a
question of either party going over
to the other. 1t Is a practical GER
tainty that the Progressives, with
their numerical strength, as shown
in the recent election by popular
majority over the Republicans Of
S19,S1S, will not go over to the Re-
publican party. 1t looks to be about
equally probable that the Republican
party will not as body come over
to the Progressives, Neitheq party
has any love for the other. Indeed,
the Republicans are bitter against
the Progressives for splitting the
party and RELOCATING 1t to third
place in the popular vote Of the
The Progressive are equally
bitter against the Republicans.
They claim, and with every evil
dence to sustain the claim, that II
Mr.. Roosevelt had been placed In
at Chicago. he would
now be president-elect Of the United
States, instead of Mr.. Wilson. With
this conviction deep in their hearts
1t is not unnatural that they should
feel as they do toward the party that
iefrauded them of this victory.
But all this Ia history. 1t Is water
over the dam. 1t cannot turn a whet
.oday. We must face what is, and
lot square ourselves to what might
nave been or should have been. As
/ result Of the political unwisdom of
he Republican leaders, the Demo
ratio party has swept into power
with q plurality bigger than that ev-
,r received by any party In the hist
Try OF the country.
So strongly entrenched, as In a
ortress Of Gibraltar, the dislodgment
If the Democratic party looks q long
way off, except through q union Of
he Republican and the Progressive
orces. There 10 one way that this