The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-02-25
BASIS OF REPUBLICAN
CONFIDENCE.


Review to be no mere triumph OF hope
over experience: II Is conceded to be
"a firm conviction" Colonel Harvey
sums up In his colby judicial way the
bases for this confidence. and his known
friendship for President Wilson adds
value to his conclusions.
He disagrees with the statements OF
both the president and Mr.. Hilles, chair
man OF the Republican National COM
mittee, as to how many electoral votes
each party would have scored II the
election last November had been for
president. Taking the votes for sena-
tors and representatives as an index
he holds that the Democrats would
have had 2b6 electoral votes, not zSs
as claimed by Mr.. Wilson; the Re-
publlcans 275. a Republican majority Of
nineteen The Colonel says the shrewd-
est Republicans honestly believe they
can hold these 275 votes and are con-
fident OF adding the votes OF Colorado.
Maine Oregon, South Dakota and Wis
consin, making a grand total of $40
and affording clear majority OF near
~ 100 votes" The Oregonian has al
ready shown how good is the ground
for this confidence as to not only
these states. but as to others where the
Democratic plurality was due only to
the continuance OF the Progressive
split Colonel Harvey says this cal. :
culation would be upset II Mr.. Wilson
'should succeed In winning over the
remaining Progressives who still hold
the balance OF power In Illinois, Calf
ornia. Pennsylvania, Idaho and Wash
ington," a statement which goes far
to explain the presidents bid for the
Progressive vote at Indianapolis. The
Colonels own conclusion Is that (which
ever party losses New York Is likely
to lose the election" In 1915 and that
the election OF 1914 "was drawn bat
tie, leaving the Democrats slightly
ahead in the popular vote and slightly
behind in prospects relating to the
choice OF electors
Colonel Harvey proceeds to consider
the prospects OF the two parties, taking
as their spokesman the President and
Senator Borah. He quotes Mr.. Will
sons statements that "the Republican
party has not had new idea for
thirty years" and that "most OF the
advice taken by the Republican party
Is taken from gentlemen old enough to
be grandfathers'' Against this he sets
Mr.. Borah's catalogue OF Republican
achievements. beginning with the in
terstate commerce law and the anti
trust law. continuing with many other
constructive and progressive laws and
closing with the Constitutional amend
ments authorizing income tax and d.
rect election Of senators. Mr. Borat
dwelt particularly on the administra-
tfon's resort to the Vreeland act Il
help the country over the war crisis
while it's own federal reserve law hay
on the shelf Colonel Harvey recalls
that. "while the new banking law wal
finally enacted by the Democrats, IT.
genesis was Republican and the ides
from which It was developed was hatch
ed in the brain OF Grandfather Mel
SON W. Aldrich."
The most telling passage quotes
from Mr.. Borahs speech is the repi
to Mr. Wilson's exultation over havinI
left Mexico alone to settle her owl
affairs. Referring to this part of tn
indianapolis speech, Colonel Harve
confesses his Inability to cmprehen
this extraordinary blending Of emotion
and cynicism." He then quotes Mi
Borah as saying that. N Mr.. Wilson
"had said in the beginning that W
were to let Mexico alone. he woul
have been in an almost impregnabl
position II he had added "that Mex
leo should respect the rights of Amer
lean citizens and OF foreigners Twin,
In that country" The Colonel quote
Mr.. Borah's statement that we did z
to Mexico, that we killed 200 Mexican
and lost nineteen OF our own men, tina
the only reason why there was no
war was that Mexico was unable I
respond" and that we destroyed eth
only semblance Of gvernment whic
they had in Mexico" Mr. Borah'
vivid picturang OF the present horribl
conditions in Mexico and OF the aid
ministration's indifference to the muir
der and ravishment of Americans 1
then quoted and placed beside tn
presidents declaration. for compariso
but without comment. No common
was necessary. for the comparison ca
lead to but one conclusion in the aver
age mind.
The points of presumed weakness
in the Democratic lineup are the
summarized. First Is depression I
business. then prospective banlxmlptc
OF the treasury. both OF which al
undeniable. Next In order come
government ownership OF ships. whic
the Colonel says, Thas found little pub
lie favor" and against which he cite
the incontrovertible arguments alread
advanced by the Greg oman. Colon,
Harvey then predicts that the bill wi
succumb in this session, and he sus
gests as the alternative then before tn
administration acknowledging defe<
or calling. an extra session." AS |
Mexico. he says that IL the warrin
factions ''unite to establish a lust go,
eminent. the triumph of the admins
tration's policy win be so overwheln
Ing as to confound its critics" but h
continues:
II not the issue inevitably win
be whether the United States owes
to her citizens to protect their
hves and properties abroad as well
as at home.
As to national defense the Repul
licans, ''as a unit for preparedness
have an advantage over their antagor
lists. The mere proposal to give c,
lombia an apology and s25, 900. 900
held to have completely alienated Col,