The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-08-19
WITHOUT AN ISSUE.

[
In all the controversy among the
progressive leaders as to whether
the third term party should hold to-
+; gether or disband, none. Of them pre-
sents an issue that could by any pos
sibility keep political organization
alive.
William Allen White does not
hesitate to admit that today the
American people are not interested
in any plan for social justice"
which means that they are not inter-
ested in the progressive platform
aad the Roosevelt platitudes. In re-
spect to live political issue the
progressives are no worse of than
the republicans, but both are as
badly off as an opposition could we'll
be the year before a presidential
campaign.
In spite of Penrose and Perkins,
no successful campaign can be wag-
cd on the tariff. That question
can be revived only by a change in
economic conditions. The country
has been taught to measure tariffs
not by principles but by prosperity.
So long as there is prosperity the
standpat republicans and their pro-
gressive allies can talk higher tariff
until they are all black in the face
without stirring the emotions of 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
of the Sherman law and is conform
ing to the statute. The crusading
days as we'll as the exploiting days,
are past, and the enforcement of the
antitrust law is now part of the
routine of the department Of justice.
The currency and banking Ques-
tion has been disposed of by an act
that has not only withstood the test
of world war but has placed the
United States in position of I'M
paralleled financial strength. 1t has
proved itself not only the most i'm
portant but the most effective piece
ct financial legislation put on the
statute books in fifty years.
Where, then is an issue to be
found In Mexico? Mexico is a sore
spot, but it may be healed before the
next presidential campaign. Wheth-
er healed or not, 1t is not big enough
for national election when the in
terest and the imagination of the
American people are absorbed by
the most terrible war of human his |
tory.
Mexico is SO completely overshad-
owed by Europe that no political
party would make rapid progress by
the situation to the
south of the Rio Grande into par
tisan matter. AS for the presidents
policy, it has displeased
nobody except the pro-Germans,
Theodore Roosevelt and certain pro-
fessional friends of Great Britain
and France. The great mass of the
American people rightly regard it as
one of the browning achievements
OF American craftsmanship.
What remains? Preparedness for
l. ational defense? That might be
very serious issue if the Wilson adj
neglected it's plain and
patriotic duty during the coming
session of congress, but all the evil
dence at hand goes to show that
both the president and his advisers
are preparing to deal with this Ques-
ton in the sane but vigorous man
ner which the country has right
to expect. There is broad middle
ground between unpreparedness and
milit arism, and it is conceivable
that this middle ground will not be
occupied and held by the president.
At present the opposition to Mr..
Wilson is sadly destitute of issue,
the poverty of the republicans being
no less wretched than the poverty of
the pfogressives. That is why there
is no discussion of principles at the
bull-moose inquest. A hearty and
human desire to obtain the Offices
that other people are holding may be
strong enough to sustain party or
ganization. 1t may be strong enough
to tempt third party leaders who can
see no hope for themselves in going
It alone. But a national campaign
requires something more for it's sue
cess than an appetite for power and
York World.