The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-04
THE .REPUDr1cAN VICTORY.

THE HERU15llkCAN VAGION1.
In q nat3onal way. the returns from
the elections in the several states are
open to bat one Interpretation. The
Republican party has again come into
its own. or.tovput it a trifls more ex-
pIicitly. the people have tried the
Democratic party in the balances and
found 1t wanting AS matter OF fact.
though, It is probable that the Demo-
cratic party would not have been given
a trial had it not been for. the division
in the Republican party that began some
five years ago with the crusade of the
Republican .insurgents'' In Congress.
This was responsible for placing the
Democrats in control Of the house OF
representatives during the last half OF
the TAFT administration Then came
the big fight in the party for the con-
troll Of the national convention of 1912.
that ended In the withdrawalrof Colonel
Roosevelt from the party and his or
ganization of the Bull Moose move
ment. Under his strenuous leadership.
the new party waxed vigorous during
the campaign Of that year. and devel-
oped SUFFICIENT strength, which 1t drew
almost entirely from the Republican
party, to cause the latter's defeat and
give victory to the Democrats. This
victory was of the minority variety.
and could not possibly be construed as
q general endorsement by the people
Of Democratic plans and policies. But
it put the Democrats in power at
Washington and gave them their long
looked for chance. And the voters yes
terday said rather emphatically that
they are not satisfied with the way the
Democrats have taken advantage Of
their opportunities.
In 30 saying, they also sounded the
death-knell of the Progressive party. AS
political wiseacres have been predicting.
it was but a flash in the political pan.
1t was a disastrous one to the Repub-
lican party while it enjoyed the vfgor
OF it's youth. But the bulk of the Re-
publicans who followed it into the field
of radicalism and also because Of their
personal admiration and faith in Colo
astically yesterday as they Joined it
two years ago. In most OF the states,
full Progressive tickets were In the
field both for state and congressional
offices. In several Of them, New York
and Pennsylvania in particular. the
Progressive candidates had all the as
sistance that Colonel Roosevelt could
give them. And yet in most Of the ma
jor contests, the Republicans were able
to register most convincing victories.
Notwithstanding the keen opposition OF
the Bull Moosers as well as the Demo-
Gratis. This makes the success Of the
Republican party all the more signifi-
cant, and the rebuke Of the Democratic
party all the more convincing.
While it seems probable that the
Democrats will continue in control of
both branches of congress, their ma
jority in the senate will be a bare one.
and their present majority Of al in the
house will be reduced to q scant rs or
60 which is scarcely one of workable
proportions in an assembly of that size.
The instances are rare in the political
history of the country when there has
been such an overturn at the polls and
especially in an "off year." 1t forecasts
an end to the rule of the Democratic
party in the nation when its four years
term has expired. The Wilson admin
istration has not been a total failure.
Many important matters and questions
have been handled most admirably by
the president. But it is evident that
the voters have reached the conclusion
that the economic policies Of the Demo-
cratic party. which have SO interfered
with the business Of the country and
Frustrated the finances of the govern
ment are not the kind Of medicine that
the nation needs.