The Washington herald., 1913-08-24
But Who VIII Be the Leader?

But Who Viii Be the Leader!
All this not only fails to disguise, but
actually emphasizes, the fact that the
Republican party sadly lacks a leader.
Even though Chairman Hilles re-
tains his position at the head of the
national committee, there is not the
slightest likelihood that former Presi-
! dent Taft contemplates restoration to
the titular leadership of his party. The
verdict against him last November was
too overwhelming to be diSregarded,
and he is in a very different position
from that occupied by Grover Cleve-
land, who was defeated in 1889, and
reelected in 1898. Mr.. Taft being
eliminated, the Republican horizon dis
plays no commanding figure. There is
no one in the. Eastern section whose
name is on the tip OF the tongue. In
the West, Senator Cummins has yet
to demonstrate that he can be returned
from his own State next year, while
Senator Borah is handicapped by his
residence in small and remote State.
Former Gov. Hadley of Missouri lacks
the association with national affairs
which is essential to leadership. In
fact, no one anywhere seems to rise
above the level of the commonplace.
Perhaps this is the juncture for
which Senator La Toilette of Wiscon-
sin has been waiting. He has many of
the characteristics of leadership, has a
large personal following in the West,
and was Progressive before Roose-
welt knew the meaning of the name.
Stranger things might happen than
that La Toilette should become the
leader of the reOrganized Republican
party, despite three self-evident propo-
sitions. The first is that he has not.
as yet, taken a prominent part in the
Senatorial consideration of the tariff
bill. 1t is also true that his most re-
cent utterance commencing Secretary
-hSANOO lOI SuSSSStiIS d NOuSPhdNy
to depreciate the value of United
States bonds, and denouncing Wall
Street and the Money Power, with
capital letters, is likely to aiienate the
conservative, influential, and wealthy
element in the country. 1t is still fur
ther true that he seemed to give aid
and comfort to the Democrats in the
last campaign, but it must be admitted
that there were thousands OF other Re-
publicans who secretly favored Wilson,
because they could not accept Taft,
and either feared or detested Roose-
welt. They rested upon the Demo-
cratic pillow because they had no.
where else TO lay their head.
Whoever the leader is to be, he is |
needed desperately right now. Some
body is needed to take hold of the Re
publican party and arouse it from its
lethargy. Even as Moses lifted up the !
serpent in the wilderness, so somebody !
is needed to raise a directing hand |
with confidence and authority. First of |
all, the party should convince the coun-
try that it is neither dead nor dying
Then it should give the rank and file
a rallying cry as an incentive to solidi-
fcation and endeavor. They need it
sadly. In fact, the activity which is
finally TO be manifested by the Repub-
lican Congressional committee ought to
have been inaugurated long ago. The
long months of inaction have almos
justified the assertion, made imme-
diately after the election, that the
party had passed beyond recall. Per
haps, however. as there is now a stir
ring within the tomb, we shall see Laz-
arus come forth and realize that the
Republican party has been merely
awaiting its resurrection day.