The Washington herald., 1916-10-15
SOME POLITICAL VIEWS.
Writer Regards Presidents Re-eIec-
tion as Logical.

tion as Logical.
Editor The Washington Herald:
Partisan politics is the besetting sin
Of modern times. The inclination to put
party above country is Just a little too
pronounced now in the Republican party
in my honest Judgment. hope It is a
truth that as we grow older we become
less inclined to be Influenced by prejudice
as we go to the ballot box? The "plumed
knight OF Maine said upon one occasion.
that the safety of the republic rested
upon the integrity of the ballot box"
This is pre-eminently true. I think. how
ever, the stamina of the observation can
be strengthened by adding to II, also. the
Intelligence of the ballot" Excitement
in the midst Of q storm is quite natural,
and there is a general proneness to drift
from the true course, under tempestuous
circumstances. 1t is hoped that before
our great political furry blows over.
calmness, sufficiently, will interpose to
enable US to get back to our correct
bearings.
A great deal of speculation is being
INDUCED in over the course that the Pro-
gressiyes will pursue the seventh Of No
vember. Just what per cent Of them
will vote for the stand-pat and old-hne
standard-bearer Of Republicanism, I shall
not attempt to say; but l do not believe
that fifty per cent of them will return
to the old school OF Republican politics.
They knew OF the radical ailments of
the Republican party as we'll as ColonaI
T. r. did; however. they are much bet
ter acquainted with the doughty Colonel
now than they were then. No denounce-
ment Of any party was ever more scath-
lngly red hot than the redoubtable Col
onel's was Of the party that once made
him President l do not believe that the
ViROrO1Tg raHplanf hull
Moosers, pulsating with vigorous anima-
ton, will be transferred like will-o-the-
wisp, by the impetuous Colonel. They left
the Republican party because 1t was
saturated too much with special privileges
and they will not return to it just sim
ply because the Colonel has. We had just
as well be frank about it, The fact that
Colonel Roosevelt has gone back to his
first political love, is no reason why
any intelligent insurgent Republican
should follow him back. 1t must not be
forgotten. If the insurgents can be right
fully termed a wing OF the Republican
party, it is considerably larger than the
other wing, the reactionaries. I give the
Progressive Republicans credit for think
ing. and with having the courage of their
convictions. They did not leave the Re
publican party because 1t had mistreated
the Colonel, for the party had treated
dent of the United States seven and one
half years. They left the old party be-
cause II was completely dominated with
the interruptions agents Of predatory
wealth. The Democratic party today con-
tatns more Of the elements Of Republican
insurgency than that of the stand-pa tiers
controlled by the Old Guard. The Dem
OCratic party rs today an aggregation of
Progressives and insurgents who think It
is high time for the country to move
forward, for special privileges to be re-
tired, and equal opportunities brought
prominently and effectively to the front
The Democratic party Is pre-eminently
and in every sense equal to the present
imperative emergency. The Democratic
party is the only constructive party in
this country today. 1t is the only politi-
cal party with suf1cient intrepedity in
matters OF national legislation to put hu-
manity first and wealth second. 1t kept
US out Of war honorably; IT is not going
to let this country go to war upon purely
commercial reasons. 1t is not going to
place in jeopardy our splendid American
manhood to crafty the Unsuitable love
for money Of the small percentage Of our
people who have invested their capital
in foreign countries. President Wilson's
reelection is a logical necessity II the
march OF industry and progress is to De
maintained in every branch Of legitimate
business The great growing, breathing
and life-gfving interest OF this country Is
not Wall Street The strongest reason for
the defeat OF the Republican party Is
the fact that Wall Street controls II, lock
stock and barrel, and the greatest rea-
son in favor Of the election Of the Dem
ocratic party, is the fact that it puts
Wall Street on a parity with every other
section of the Union and will treat them
all on terms Of absolute equality
W. NJ. HOIRSTON