The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-07
FRIDAY, NOV. 7, 1918.
THE ELECTIONS.

II seems to be the c~oncensus Of Opin'
;fon of the newspapers that have com
$Inented editorially on the recent cleo
Iions. that they were a strong endorse
snlent Of the Wilson administration. A
few Of the old line republican papers
claim that it is too early as yet tC
Come to a conclusion. and that the big
democratic victories in the east mean
Ehothing, but those that are inclined to
The fair admit that the people seem to
bc pretty thoroughly satisfied with the
Nay the democrats have behaved since
Ihey took over the reins Of govern
ment.
The following from The Minneapolis
Tribune is typical of the way that
many republican papers view the re-
suits:
bs The plain truth of the elections is
that they constitute a general endorse
4Aent Of the democratic administration.
Only in New York were gains made by
sither Of the opposition parties and in
New York the fight was against Tam
many, goodness knows. and not in be-
Ehalf of Barnes.
~ Woodrow Wilson has not lost a
single engagement at the polls. The
defeat of Tammany was accomplished
with a candidate chosen by him. He
has gained a senator in Maryland. He
has held his own in republican New
Jersey. The most persistent critic OF
his tariff in Massachusetts has been
SHOWED under in contest for reelection
as governor. Even the municipal cleo
tons in Ohio give him and his party
effective approval.
Talking Of this success as a 'plu-
Tality' victory will not change matters.
IL the administration did not have the
general approval Of the people. nothing
Gould keep republicans n progress
siVes from uniting against 1t in state
and municipal elections. They ought
TO unite. In the judgment of The
Tribune the welfare Of the nation re-
quires that they do unite. They do not
do so mainly because they would rath-
en- cling to their prejudices than win
at the polls; but even this political
cross-eyedness could not keep them
apart If the people were not content
with democratic government as they
have sampled it this past year.
lone of our neighbors suggests that
the administration has not yet been
tested, that all administrations go to
their real battles in their second and
third years, not their first. Of course
this is true. But those who believe
now what The Tribune has always be-
lieved-that the republican party is
generally more competent than any
other-only mislead Themselves If they
forget that the administration has in
vited Judgment on the chief question
Of old alignments-the tariff, n one
of the chief questions Of new align
ments, the currency.
Three teachings, to our thinking,
are made clear by the elections Of
Tuesday,
Il. That the appeal Of non-partisan
government has rarely, if ever, been
stronger in our history than it is to-
day.
"2. That the course of Woodrow
Wilson as president, notwithstanding
his determination in reducing the tar
if and reforming the currency, is gen.
orally approved.
&t'3. That if republicans would again
come into control-whatever name
they bear-they can do so with the
people in their present temper only on
aasplatform Of administrative efficiency
III the cause Of good government for
TODAY"