The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1915-05-06
Washington Letter

"sShhbNS" SSN
Washington, May S. Especial cor
respondence.) The national cam
paign OF 1916 has already begun.
Democrats-both deserving and de-
siring-have renominated and re'elect'
ed the president; and half a score Of
republican "favorite sons" are emerg'
ing into the presidential arena.
The personal phase Of the canvass,
however, is not yet acute-nor will it
become so for many months, That
the president will receive a renomina'
tion is certain. He wants it, and his
power Of patronage will give it to him.
Therefore, whoever may be the repub'
lican nominee, the opposition leader
ship is settled; aud the issues Of the
canvass Of next year are determined.
They are, broadly speaking, republi'
canism against democracy, Wilson
against some republican who is thor
oughly representative Of the party as it
is and has been and will be, the pol
icies and practices Of democratic ad-
ministration and legislation against
those Of the republicans.
This phase Of the next national con
test is already under discussion. The
Republican Publicity Association is
now gathering and distributing inform
alton regarding republican principles,
republican policies, and republican
achievements, with incidental reference
it NAV be remarked, TO the comparison
which may readily be instituted between
the republican and democratic record.
Such an exposition begun now and
continued until election day, will re-
suit in a more intelligent verdict at
the polls in 1916 than has ever been
taken from the American electorate.
There are no personal elements in the
equation which must be eliminated.
The president, Of course, and Mr.
Bryan, and McAdoo and Daniels and
Burleson and the rest remain as con
slant factors in the equation, which is.
in its main lines, the determination Of
how they have dealt with the trust
which they have administered.
The answer to this question should
turn, in the last analysis, upon the
candor and accuracy and good temper
with which the facts are submitted for
popular judgment. This is an age OF
inquiry. The man who wants 10 know
is more numerous now than ever be-
fore, and he wants TO know why so
many Of the democratic campaign
pledges have been violated; why the
present administration not only aban-
doned its declared policy Of economy
but why it fails now to make an excuse
for so doing; why the diplomatic ser
vice has been revised to make places
for liberal contributors to democratic
campaign funds and for original Bryan
men" who have no other claim upon a
democratic administration; why help
full and productive tariff was destroyed,
entailing TO American industry havoc
which even a European war has not
been able to undo; why the postal and
other services which touch the people
in their daily lives have been permitted
to deteriorate and thus to hamper the
carrying on Of both public and private
business.
These are only few Of the questions
which will be presented to the people
before they register their judgment on
the democratic administration Of public
affairs. That judgment is probably
already made up, but discussion oi
these and kindred subjects will render
the decision seasoned one-which
makes all the more likely that it will
be uniavorable to the party in power.
The Day Of Reckoning Has Come
The legislative history Of two years