The Washington herald., 1914-07-25
A New Reactionary Period.

To be called reactionary a few years ago was
to be also called undesirable citizen. But the
meaning of words may change with times and con-
ditions and today reports come from all parts of the
country that there are indications of reaction against
the present policies and the record to date of the
present administration This reaction is not confined
to those who voted the standpat Republican ticket
two years ago 1t includes the Progressives, and is
reported to be making inroads on the Democratic
party There is pretty general chorus of criticism
and fault-fnding with strong symptoms of reaction
This reactionsry tendency has even found its way
into Congress and into the majority side of both
Senate and House. There is evidence of reaction
against extravagant appropriations among the Demo-
cratic leaders responsible for reporting appropriation
bills reaction against river and harbor improvements
from those who have in the past helped to pass big
river and harbor bills reaction against the Presi-
dents disposition of patronage his failure to dis
pose of it, reaction against his nominations for the
Federal Reserve Board; reaction against the Seven
Sisters in trust legislation reaction against the New
lands BILL which appropriated the virtues of the
Presidents Seven Sisters reaction against conserva-
tion and reaction against the indehnteness of the
session. Even President Wilson has become reac-
tonary against of the reactionares OF his party
So when we come to look the country over the
most prominent word in the political vocabulary is
reaction, which would lead one to belisve that not
only a majority of the American people but ma
jority of the majority in Congress have become
reactionaries against what is and what is promised
by the present control of the government by the
Democratic party.
But the reactionary indications not all against
the Democratic party. They are in evidence against
the Progressive party and even against the author
who applied the word reactionary to political condi
tions and politicians Col Roosevelt has given evil
dence of reaction against some of the ambitions of
other Progressiyes, and Gov. johnson, Victor Muir
dock and other ardent Progressiyes show signs of
reaction against the Colonel.
The Colonel is accused OF reactionary tendencies
that look toward reassocisting himself with the Old
Guard in New York with ambitions TO again become
the boss of the organization combining in himself all
the bipartisan characteristics of both Boss Barnes
and Boss Murphy. And this leaves Gov. Johnson,
Victor, Murdock, and few other Progressives
monopoly in the Progressive organization, with dis
solving views appearing the Progressive screen.
The only politicians who appear undisturbed
happy and not reactionary are those who were once
denounced as reactionaries who stood in the way of
progress. They are sitting quietly in the shade
philosophically and with satisfaction watching the
progressive movement of the and various forms of
reactonaries rushing pel nell toward them, as occu
pyng the only haven of from the heat of progress
i've politics All the reactions of today are toward
the old reactionares, and they least relieved
of that other appellaton of undesirable citizens when
Progressives and Democrats are anxious to again
associate with them. This is one of the funny but
perfectly natural developments in politics especially
Of hysterical politicians. What is in word anyway?