Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-16
REPUBLICANS "CoMISG BACK.-

Iblt'I NiSt.
REPUBLICANS "CoMISG BACK.r
The more one studies the returns from
the by-elections of this week the more
certain is it that the Republican party
is Coming back" The seventh district
OF New Jersey. known as "the Passaic
district" which Congressman-elect Druk-
kor carried by a republican margin Of
5.0O0 on Tuesday, elected Rremner by a
democratic plurality Of over 5000 in 1912
The Wilson administration had adopted
O'Byrne, the democratic candidate as
its very own" and yet here we have
an apparent change in favor of republic
can policies Of about 1000 votes
This change was made In the face of
the constantly reiterated assertions Of
the eyes Of the whole country We're on
this election and that there could be but
one Interpretation of triumph for Druk-
ker, the republican candidate.
Congressman Covington declared that
the defeat Of O'Byrne would be taken as
an indication of break In the demo-
cratic lines and he asked that the voters
stand together to show that democracy
meant what it did when Woodrow Wilson
was sent to Washington.
Senator Lewis, who spoke in Vermont
at the dedication of the monument to
Stephen A. Douglas in Brandon, conceded
the question to be whether every news
paper in the country should be given
opportunity ito say New Jersey, the
home of the President. has repudiated
him at the end of fourteen months OF
his administration"
Senator Lewis himself thus interpreted
the result in advance and more, for the
very fact that this appeal to state pride
failed to swerve the voters from their
convictions emphasizes the extent of the
reaction in public sentiment and the
way in which republicans are coming
back"
Here is how the Brooklyn Eagle, indie
pendent democrat and an ardent sup
porter of President Wilson's policies,
views the outcome in New Jersey from
a strategical point Of view:
much, therefore, was stakcd upon the
outcome not against the wish OF the
President He cannot rail that seal
1 L..
making of the bed. As he himself
Joined the issue, nothing remains to he
said except that he was unfortunate In
his selection Of battle-ground. For
there are many mills in Passaic, and
manufacturers have a preference for re
vision upward. Moreover, the district IS
one TO which gerrymanderers can poin,
with pride It was artisticaly carved
1t was anything hut an ideal spot for
the administration to choose even for a
skirmish, to say nothing of "A real tug
OF war. Strategists make better selcc-
tons Also. they take into account the
possibility of having to beat a retreat
tions. 1t will be long before we shall
hear the last OF O'Byrne."
1t is also significant that while James
A. Gallivan, the democratic candidate for
Congress to succeed Mayor Curley Of
Boston was elected as was anticipated
in a strong democratic district never
theless every candidate for the position
was constrained ny public sentiment tc
repudate Mr. Wilson's surrender Of
Americas complete sovereignty over the
Panama canal in response TO England:
bchest. despite the declaration of the
second article of the -Paunccfot,
treaty, that the United States "shal
have and enjoy all the rights incident tC
such construction" Of the canal by thi.
nation. showing that national honor
is not at stake as insisted by the re
pealers.
From whatever point OF view one may
view the outcome Of the by-congressiona
elections of the present week, therefore
q the administrators policies stand tC
y lose. The Republican party, which
h stands for the integrity Of the Ameri
q can market for the products Of American
q labor as we'll as the integrity Of Amer
a can soil and American sovereignty, Il
: about - vlndicatc its right to serve tn,
l. people as we'll as to exist, and by No
d vember the movement will reach a GROUND
swell of victory.