Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-07

COMMENT ON
THE ELECTIONS
Causes of Tuesdays Results--Re-
sponsibilities That Now Confront
Republicanism.

Republicanism.
The mid-term elections held throughout
the country last Tuesday are considered,
by the editorial writers whose opinions
have go far come to hand. to indicate
many things, but II IL noticeable in many
cases that the significance ascribed to
the election Is largely colored by the poll
oies Of the paper which happens TO point
It out. Thus Democratic papers generally
assert that the retention OF a majority In
an off-year election is positive triumph
for President Wilson and his fellow
woTkers Republican organs, jubilant IN
victory, are certain that the election por-
tends a complete repudlation Of Demoo-
racy In 1916; between them the fate of the
Progressive party ls cheerfuliy announced
as oblivion. Comment on the elections
In Pennsylvania are concerned chiefly
with the triumph OF the party personal
questions being largely put by the board.
The case 10 summed UP by the Boston
Transcript which prides itself on Its Re-
publloanism, when Il says; 1T II the
Republican cause, not the candidate, for
whom Pennsylvania has rolled UP over
100000 majority" The New York Sun,
in the same vein, sarcastically says:
THANK God for Wilson Thank Wilson
ming Sun calls the real tragedy Of the
election not the return of Penrose, but
the moral bankruptcy OF Theodore
Roosevelt and his party
Many Republican papers, including the
Boston Transcript, the New York Tri-
bune and the Ohio State journal, are
agreed that the Republican success car
ries with It certain perlls. The fight for
progressivism within the party must be
continued, in order that Penrose, CAL
linger and their kind may not stand be-
fore the public as representing tho spirit
of Republicanism. Penrose is regarded
as a heavy handicap by reason Of what
the country at large believes him to be
the personihcatlon of generally dis
credited kind OF politics.
A mistake will be made II the PEN
roses and the Cannons construe what has
happened as their victory They wrecked
their party two years ago. The spirit OF
their leadership was condemned at tho
polls not only by n plurality for Wilson,
but by larger popular vote for Colonel
Roosevelt than for Mr.. Taft.-New York
Globe.
The country rebelled nt that peculiar
aloofness In Mr.. Wilson's character which
made him willing to experiment with the
whole structure OF business life, regard
might come to hundreds of thousands or
individuals. Those disarrangements gave
him little personal concern. He drove
credit into its hiding places, crippled In
duBtry and trade and threw men out or
work with no more feeling than he would
have shown in working out problem In
algebra.
He allowed Congress to elaborate plans
for recasting methods of business. even
after the depression caused by tariff leg
islation had become acute. He permitted
the railroads to bo starved, although con-
Tossing that II they were not prosperous
few other Industries could be expected
to prosper. Last summer he began to
realize the danger OF his course. But
1t was too late.--New York Tribune.
It is too early yet to anhlyzs salts
factorlly the causes which led to such
reverse. But OF the three eN-
ceptionally important measures passed
by the last Congress one, the currency
act has the oountry's full approval; the
tho antitrust legislation, has
awakened real interest neither one way
nor the other; the third II the tariff.
This is the only ono that could have
awakened party antagonism, the only
one that has or could have made itself
felt in influence adverse to business and
continued Observation-Disclosures News
sfr. Wilson has not altogether escaped
the penalty OF success which the country
so often visits upon President in the
second year OF his term. Even though
he has shown and maintained his mas
terry over a fractions Congress and has
shaped it's action to his will. even though
he has in less than two years carried
. program OF legislation un-
equaled in variety, scope and import
ance in the record OF any other Prssi-
dents complete term, even though he has
won and deserved the gratitude OF the
country for keeping Us out OF the war
with Mexico at this most critical tims
In the election held Tuesday, even though
Congress has been saved, the verdict Is
not favorable to him or 70 his party
New York Times.
To have q real raison d'StTo, the Pro-
gressivo party would have 10 be both
more radical as regards its specific pro-
gram, and more conservative In Its gem
eral expressions OF purpose. than It has
been. As II stands, II promises |
nothing that cannot be achieved without |
II, and yet suggests indefinite possibil-
tiles OF dangerous innovationy-Nsw York !
Evening Post.
In districts where the protection issue |
was unolouded the Republicans made |
great gains. The Democratic majority |
IN the House r. narrowly escaped anni- |
hilation. The Democrats foolishly pitted |
the personal popularity of the President |
against the real Issues before the peo-
pie. and they have lest---WaAhinEton