New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-07
The Democratic Party Will not
Profit by Serio-Comic Efforts to
Explain Away Its Defeat.

Sel4 River three times with heroic cheertulneSs'
Crow has been served to many politicians who
have said It tasted almost like turkey But we
can hardly recall an attempt to smile away 'he
bitterness of defeat as record-breaking as the
claim of certain ultra-Wilsonites that the results
of Tuesdays elections were a vindication for
the President.
Our good friend "The World" published a lead
ing editorial article yesterday entitled wilson
rr;prrbp The article took issue with this state
ment in The Tribune of Thursday: "Mr. Wilson's
defeat in the second year of his administration
;s az crushing for all practical purposes as were
49, MD form defeats that overlook President
Taft in 1910. President Cleveland in 1894 Pres'-
don't Harrison in 1890 and President Arthur IN
1897 Our neighbor eliminated the references to
pros;dert Cleveland in 1894 and President Arthur
N 1889 but claimed that we were in error IN
holding the setback to the present administration
., no 90 severe as that suffered by the Taft ad-
.;..;.4ro+io, in 1910 or the Harrison admlnistra-
ton in 1890.
We were not trying to establish any exact
Mathematical ratio of loss. In 1910 the kepuDH-
cors had to surrender "a seats in the House and
the Democrats gained that number. In lSSo the
Renublicans lost IS seats and the Democrats
Gained =. This year the Democrats have appar-
IL Loot so seats and the Republicans have
Gained something over 20. The House having
.o.s;derablv larger membership nowadays and
H. ,.osort Democratic majority being exception
ILL, bio tho shifting of 90 votes did not take con-
troll away from the Democrats. But as mani
fostation Of popular disapproval OF the poAcieS
&c the marty in power it was just as significant
,,ore the repudations Of 1910 and 1880. 1t IS
lust as definite a warning Of election served on
the marty in power as were the violent reactions
which occurred midway in the Taft and Harri-
son administration.
THE World" expresses the opinion that after
learning from it that saving the House by
majority of less than fifteen constitutes vii
soD triumph" we viii not again say that the
Democratic defeat of Tuesday last was 'as crush
ing for all practical purposes as that which
overlook the Republican party in 1910 or 1871
In that it is mistaken. We shall continue to say
co and 70 believe that in saying so we are giving
a truthful Interpretation Of what happened last
Tuesday.
II must be remembered that the party which
elected POP Representatives the other day con-
,rolled only votes in the last Electoral College.
In the elections Of 1890 and 1910 one major party
was fighting against another. But this year the
elements which had constituted the Republican
partv M to 1912 we're still disunited. There
were Progressive as well as Republican candl-
dates in a majority Of the Congress districts.
In many cases that division made possible the re-
turn Of Democratic nominees 1t is evident, there
fore that if the Progressive party had fused with
the Republicans in those districts or even with
drawn its own candidates The Democrats would
have lost not 90 but between so and 90 seats in
the lower branch of Congress.
The real significance Of the election, 50 far as
Democratic hopes for 1916 are concerned, lies in
the evidence winch IL iioiiN' VI III"
of a single powerful opposition party. The Amer
lean voter has never taken kindly to three-party
system. He wants his vote 70 count directly for
or against leaders and policies He does not be
lieve in the group idea in government. The Re
publican and Progressive groups had taken no
formal steps toward reamalgamation. The leaders
in both camps were more or less opposed to re-
union. But the pressure Of President Wilson's de-
structive policies drove the rank and file Of the
two parties together They knew better than their
leaders did what ought to be done to meet the
situation created 10y Hard Times President.
The reunion which the voters Of the two fac
lions have brought about will become more and
more complete in the next two years. The Pro
cressive organization is a wreck. The purposes
which it served have been accomplished, according
10 the view of from rs to 80 per cent of those who
Joined il in 1872 Now they have other purposes
to accomplish and mean to accomplish them
through the agency of the Republican party.
THE World" says "Thc American people
never were so rich and prosperous as they are
to-day" Would it were So But any casual in
curry will show that credit is restricted, business