South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-18
SIGNS OF DEolAGoGUERY.

III TIC Ad~b Va Nost tAHNA ANlADfof AAAet
there viii be "A certain amount OF
demagOguery 0,g;cped in every cam
paign speech and what fell from the
lips Of Sen Warren G. Harding Of
Ohio. at the Springbrook barbecue
Saturday does not surprise us. Maybe
too, It had its effect Aside from the
riagleaders present, whom we Will
credit with sufficient intelligence 10
understand such clap-trap. it may be
that the remainder OF those who at
tended were simple enough 10 take
II all for granted. And In saying this
too, II may not have been altogether
different at this republican gathering
than it is at similar ones being held
over the state by the democrats.
But OF course. Sen Harding's adj
dress is the one more Immediately in
point. His conception OF what is go
ing to happen 20 American industry
after tre European war in the alb
sence of a prOtectiv, tariff, is too
hair-brained for Us TO discredit him by
taking him seriously. He evidently
presumes that no one has been killed,
or Is going 20 be killed in the course
OF the war. He would have Us believe.
apparently that he believes that in
spite Of the slaughter the war babies
will develop into manhood fast enough
that there will be six million more
workingmen in Europe than ever be-
fore TO compete for our markets. Then
he talks sagely about a universal dis
armament and the release Of former
soldiers for industrial service follow
ing the cessation of hostiities. over
there, this TO remove the blight on
civilization" but he is going 10 vote
Cor preparedness In the next con-
gress, and for the biggest navy In the
world. seemingly to keep the blight"
alive.
All OF which. a mere mum bling OF
nonsense and Inconsistency, goes to
show how hard up the republicans are
for an issue. and, the terrible time
they are having in their efforts 70
manufacture one. son. Harding will
vote for the biggest navy in the world,
ito protect our American trade" this
too in immediate anticipation that
following the war the other powers
are TO disarm. and it would seem.
leave US with something on our hands
that we don't need, and will have no
use for. Europe most assuredly will
not disarm unless America does. She
is not going to place Us in a position
to ram our industries down her throat;
that is not very likely We can draw
but one conclusion. then, if we are
TO accept his announced program as
sincere. and that is that ne is exceed
iBEly anxious 20 AFFORD the armament
and munitions trust another big
chance at the federal pOcketbook be-
fore armament and munitions grow
internationally unpopular; that too.
Notwithstanding that the armament
and munitions in which We indulge
Will have TO go to the junk-heap Just
as soon as that unpopularity arrives.
Then. if the senator knows any
thing In particular he knows that at
the rate Europe is dispOslng of its
men by the shrapnel and other similar
routes. he knows that there will be
a scarcity rather than an ovarplus OF
labor when the slaughter ends. Put
every available man at work at some
useful industry and it Will take every
country involved in the war years 10
recover their former equilibrium; but,
of course. the republican party having
failed 10 bring on panic. as antici-
pated. for the present, IL is only 10 be
expected that they should extend those
anticipations on into the future. The
calamity now lies "jost around the
corner" We must provide for the
full dinner-pail" after the war is
over. you see. 10y letting the republic
cans do the filling.
Besides which. too. we are told that
II is the republican party that has
given the American people all their
high-mindedness. and character, and
sense or respectability; and. therefore,
we presume. We might as well go
way back and sit down" We had long
known the republican party 70 be the
champions OF the aristOcracy Of
money. but it having taken over now
all the brains and character OF the
country. IL looks TO US as though
everybody might as well throw up
their hands The great Ohioan has
spoken. and Ohio, YOU know. next 10
Virginia is the mother OF presidents.
though. OF course. that does not eX-
clude her from furnishing the land
with her fun quota Of demagOgues as
we'll
The high-mindedness, character and
respectabifity OF the American people
belongs 20 no party, and is the prod
uct OF no party. and instead Of being
handed from above down, has been
forced from below upward, the result