The Washington herald., 1914-04-09
What the Elections Mean.

Examination OF the complete returns from the
Congressional election in the Seventh New Jersey dis
triet on Tuesday is Illuminating There were ap-
proximately zI.7oo votes cast hundred or so more
than in the last election in 1912 The closeness Of
the two votes makes comparison especially interest
ing and profitable The Democrats lost 4.75o votes
the Progressyes 4I4o while the Republicans gained
$3.50 and the Socialist candidate polled 5000 In the
election Of 1919 there was no Socialist candidate in
the field.
The important question in analyzing the result is
where the $3.50 votes gained by the Republicans and
the 5000 votes polled by the Socialists from.
Should il be contended that practically the entire
Progressive loss went to make up the Republican
gsin the admission is forced that 5000 of what were
Democratic votes in 1919 Socialist votes in 1914
This is explanation that is not likely to be ac-
cepted by political students of any party. The con-
clusion inevitable that Progressive, in New
Jersey at least really Socialist and that he easily
and naturally transferred his Tuesday the
Socialist nominee because the Progressive leaders
gave serious support to the man named their
candidate
If this logical view be accepted then follows that
the great bulk of the Republican gain contributed
by Democrats. There may have been minor con-
sderations influencing the in 1912 and 1914 but
the fact remains that on Tuesday the Democrats lost
heavily and the Republicans gained in about the same
proportion. Democrats and Republicans are alike
interested in determining the reason .'..
Any attempt to include the Panama Canal tolls
question as among the causes involves wide stretch
of the imagination. Stated in simple terms this is
question the one hand of the advisabity of ship
subsidy and the other of the nations duty in honor
squarely and fairly interpret our treaty with Great
Britain Passaic County N. j. in which lies the Sew
enth district is only remotely interested in coastwse
shipping. Its population is intelligent and not liable
be misled by the false and hypocritical cry that
President Wilson is trucking TO Great Britain. 1t is
manufacturing center and its prosperity may be Vi
tally affected one way the other by the tariff 1t
has been the scene of serious labor troubles and
strikes resulting in hundreds of arrests which have
justly or otherwise been blamed the Democratic
tariff and is difficult for the impartial observer to
escape the conviction that the of 1000
Democratic to the Republican candidate was due
principally to belief that the promises of the admin
istraton have not been fulfilled and that on the
contrary gainfu occupation is difficult to attain
than it prior to March !, 1915 and the cost of
living has been by no means decreased
In the Twelfth Massachusetts district while the
change in the less pronounced the result can
be scarcely less disconcertng to Democrats. Only
little more than half the normal was cast. The
the Democrats nearly half. The difference was re-
Aected in Republican steadfastness.
All in all the Tuesday elections can only be regard
ed cheering day for the Republicans. Democrats
and Progressves may we'll take stock.