New Britain herald., 1915-03-20
A Republican Danger.
(Springfield Republican.


There is one element of danger for
the republican party in the campaign
to elect a business administration
next year, already under way with
Senator Penrose as chief sponsor. This
is clearly recognized by far-sighted re-
publicans in congress who come from
eastern as well as form more radical
western states
UnquestionabIy the appeal to the
voters for return of prosperity UNI
der republican rule can be made with
large practical effectiveness, wholly
regardless of the logic of holding the
democrats responsible for present con-
ditions. No matter what may be the
true cause, business depression al
ways hurts the party in power. There
is no doubt that the republican talk
of a business ADMINISTRATION when
has been going on for months, 1nde-
pendently of the movement now
engineered by Senator Penrose, rep
resents an important volume OF
opinion. Inevitably it will make itself
felt in the next republican convention
and in the campaign which follows.
But if this talk is based upon the
expectation of revising the tariff up
ward and of doing nothing else, as
if the world had not moved forward
III the last ten years, and as If many
serious social problems had not pre-
sented themselves, then someone is
In for rude awakening In that
case, as a clear-sighted republican in
Washington very recently expressed
it. the republican party will again be
headed for disaster, whether it wins
the next election or not. The fear that
this is to be the program is what the
more astute republicans will have to
fight against in the popular mind. Too
much history has been made for such
a program to recall to the party all
who left it in 1908, or to hold within
it all who have thus far remained
hoping to render it more progressive
instrument of government by their
leavening from within.
Such things as the miners strikes
in Colorado and West Virginia and
| the essential breakdown of govern
! ment there, should be a warning to
! all sensible men that the affairs of
the republic cannot be safely admin
! istered, or q foundation laid for last
| ing business prosperity, by any party
/ which proposes merely to pass q
| protective tariff and then to fold its
| hands while business, if heaven is
| kind, improves. Senator Penrose it
| is true. won an overwhelming victory
in Pennsylvania last fall. But 1t is
not fortunate for the republican party
/ that he should be SO largely identified
with the present movement; his stand
! ing is not and never will be party
| asset. Nor is to fortunate that re-
cent conference of those who are
| launching the so-called business men s
| movement should have been reported
! as held in that one Of New York S
| fashionable esta blishments perhaps
most identified in the public mind
| as the luxurious resort of wealth In
| this there are suggestions Of which
| the democrats are certain to take
advantage. Nor can the elaborate adj
'vertisement lately given to Uncle
| Joe Cannon's return to congress be re-
/ garded as a help to the party The
, public memory is not so short as
! that.
IL the republican business mems
J movement is wisely handled it NAV
/ do more to drive progressives into the
! democratic party than President vii
son.s Indianapolis speech did to-attra ct
them. .-.