Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1915-08-17
AN ISSUE

In all the controversy among the Progressive leaders as to whether
the thirdterm party should hold together o disband, none of them
presents an issue that could by any possibility keep a political organ'za-
ton alive says. the New York World.
William Allen White does o hesitate to admit that to-day the
which mean that they are not interested in the Progressive platform
and the Roosevelt plattudes. In respect to a live political issue the
Proeressives are nc worse off than the Republicans, but both re a
badly off IS an opposition could we'll be the yea before a presidential
campaign.
wager o the tariff. That question an be revived only by a change IN
economic conditions The country has been taught to measure tarnhs
standpat Republicans hr ogress ames .n Tar un;nn 90
until they are all black in the face without stirring the emotions oil a
single voter.
As for the trusts, they too are out of the way as a partisan issue
Big Business for the most part has accepted the popular Interpretation
days a well as the exploiting days re past, thu enforcement D
the Antitrust law is now part OF the routine OF the department 81
justice.
The currency and banking question has been disposed of by an
act that has n OF only withstood the testo of a world "a but has placed
the United States in a position of unparalleled financial strength. 1t
has proved itself OF only IN most important ot the NOS enee'N<
piece OF financial legislation put o n the statute books in fifty years
Where, then, is an issue tic be found? In Mexico? Mexico isa
sore spot, but it may be healed before the next presidential campaign.
Whether healed Or not, it is not big enough for a national election
when the interest and the imagination of the American people ar a-
sorbed by the most terrible wal of human history.
Mexico is 81 completely overshadowed by Europe that no political
party would make rapid progress by transforming the situation to the
south OF the Rio Grande into a partisan matter. As for the presidents
Theodore Roosevelt and certain professional friends of Great Britain
and France. The great mas OF the American people rightly regard it
as OF the crownng achievements of American craftsmanship.
What remains? Preparedness for national defense? That might be
a very serious issue if the Wilson administration neglected its plain and
patriotic duty during the coming session of congress, but all the vi
dence 1t hand goes to show that both the president and his advisers are
n-e,,r;ro 10 lea, nth tbs ouestion in he SAM but vioorous manner
which the country has a right to expect There is a broad middle ground
between unpreparedness and miitarsm, and 1t is lnconceNaole hat th
middle ground will not be occupied and held by the president
AT present the opposition to Mr.. Wilson is sadly destitute #
issues, the poverty OF the Republicans being n less wretched than the
poverty of the Progressives. That is why there is n o discussion OF
obtain the Offices that other people are holding may be strong enough
to- sustain a party organization. 1t may be strong enough to tempt
alone. But a national campaign requires something lore for its success
than a n appetite for power and patronage.