Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-06-27
ITO HE'LL WITH THEM!"

YOUR PARDON. gentle reader. We
didn't say it, but are quoting, with due
respect, the caption of an editorial by
Colonel Henry Watterson, reviewing
the work of the two conventions in his
Louisville Courier-Journal. The great
Kentuclian used the headline impreca-
ton in referring to the Hapsburgs and
the Hohenzollerns and their hyphe-
mated agents in the United States.
In reading the editorial, given be-
low, remember that Col. Watterson is
the Souths mishtiest orator and that
he yields the most powerful pen since
Alexander Hamilton. Hear Watterson:
I'm presence of the world problems
that menace lis il would be a splendid
thing If we had no party contest for
the presidency; If both parties, agree
ing to disagree, would get together
and stand back of the existing admin
istration; II being now. as ever, unsafe
to swap horses whilst crossing
streams. A united electorate would
elevate and strengthen republican
ideals at home and abroad. In that de-
fault. however, we have still reason to
be thankful that the specter of life
tenure has been lifted. 1t will be
long time before any successful poll
tician and popular favorite attempts TO
violate the tradition against a third
term in the White House set by Wash
ington.
1T is likely, indeed, that ere this
happens we shall have a constitutional
amendment limiting the presidency to
a single term of six or seven years.
Meanwhile ii is of good augury that,
in the persons of Woodrow Wilson and
Charles Evans Hughes, we may choose
between two educated and patriotic
men, to either of whom under normal
conditions the national institutions
and welfare might be safely intrusted.
"Unhappily the conditions are not
normal, are most abnormal which
raises dilemma and imposes a duty
never greater in all our experience as
nation and people.
"cant and Rant"
After twenty years of Bryan cant
and fifteen years of Roosevelt rant It
would seem a blessed relief to have a
presidential campaign pitched on a
sober key by two competing presiden.
tial candidates representing the re-
Elective and orderly which survive in
the minds of the voters: hut are we,
Notwithstanding Wilson and Hughes,
to have the screaming and the yawp-
ing merely vary their terms and trans
fer themselves from outstanding about
fiscal qualities and social ethics to the
old humdrum of the outs against the
!nS,' false accusations md big prom.
ises raising only elimination and re.
elimination?
when old Sam Johnson defined ma.
triotism' as the best refuge of scoun.
dreP no one had conceived, or could
foretell, the infinite variety of the
modern politicians genius for humbug.
Relying upon the personality and
the character of their nominee to pull
them through. the down and out Re
pu' Hcans lIETe placed him on a plat
form of flapdoodle about American
ism and preparedness in which emp
ty rodoD'ontade plays hide and seek
with vaporing as to the would have
beens had they an | nj tie DEMOCRATS
been in power, nowhere clear, in.
cisive statement touching any situa,
ton, or policy, in actual rebuttal.
1T iG good to fly the flag-to rally
beneath ito wrap ';s folds about
you-our star lowered emblem of lib
erty, Americas symbol of the free
hearts, hope and home. But 1t is
quite as fraudulent and indecent tC
El"mrt 1t rs Il sfihboleth for ~ Tty and
advantages az 10 use II to advertise 6
quack nostrum. The flag belongs tc
no party. II is the heritage OF al
parties. Both the Republican party
and the Democratic party are Ameri
Continued on Page Four)