The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-01-01
THE IMPOSSIBLE.


a president of the United States who
has accomplished the impossible.
1t was impossible that the demo
cratic party, with it's long record OF
folly, foolishness and faction, could
be transformed into an effective in
strument of government.
1t was impossible that a president
who had had no experience III ma
tional politics and no personal ac-
ouaintance with the leaders OF the
party could work harmoniously with
congress.
1t was impossible that all I'M
wieldly majority such as the demo-
Gratis had in the house could be held
together.
1t was impossible that a narrow
majority such as the democrats had
in the senate could be prevented
from surrendering to privilege and
giving the country another example
of party perfidy and party dishon-
or"
1t was impossible that the demo-
cratic party, in the light of its his
tory for fifty years, could carry out
a sane, constructive policy OF govern
ment
Yet all these things have come
about. Not since the civil war has
any administration written so much
history within so brief a period OF
time as the Wilson administration
has written since March 4.
AS for the president and congress,
Mr.. Wilson's leadership is unique.
He has not only had as much in
fuence over congress as Mckinley
or Grant ever welded, but he has OBJ
tanned none of this influence by the
bribery of patronage, and he has
been able to exert it for public, not
partisan, purposes.
Mr.. Taft never led the republican
party. He was led by the leaders Of
the Old Guard. Mr.. Roosevelts
domination of the party was the
domination of a brag, buster, dema-
gogy, tiattery, jobs and compromise.
In spite of all his ranting and roar
ing he never failed to surrender to
the Hannas, Platts, the Quays, the
Aldriches and the Cannons when he
found they were in earnest.
Reversing the rule of Frederick
the Great, Mr.. Roosevelt was allow
ed to say what he liked and they
were allowed to do as they liked.
The Mckinley leadership was the
leadership of an administration with
out ideals 1t was easy for Mr.. Nc
kinley to get what he wanted from
congress, for he wanted nothing that
congress and the republican party
organization did not want. AS for
Mr.. Cleveland, the difficulties that
confronted his administration were
no. more serious than the difficulties
that confronted the Wilson admins
tration But Mr.. Cleveland had no
faith in his party. AS president he
rarely missed an opportunity to
make an enemy, and the friends he
failed to sacrifice were for the most
part the friends he ought to have
sacrificed In the end he wrecked
his party and left the country at the
mercy of the silver issue.
Thanks to President Wilson. there
is not gap in the democratic ranks
at Washington. Thanks to Presi-
Gent Wilson, the party is faithfully
carrying out it's promises. For the
first time in a generation a national
platform is proved to mean what it
said. and the way is cleared both to
new freedom and new prosperity.
two years ago any man would
have been laughed at as a fool il he
had yentured to predict that a demo
cratic president and democi attic
congress could accomplish in four
years what this administration has
accomplished in nine months. The
"schOolmaster" the professor -
as his opponents sneeringly dubbed
him, has given the country lesson
in the art of government. New
York World.