The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-11-23
THE ELECTION OF 1910.

The election OF 1916 has passed
| into history--the nation has set the
seal of it's commentator upon the
administration of President Wilson
He not only has majority in the
electoral college but, what Is even
more significant, he has popular
plurality of some four hundred thou
sand. A constitutional victory, that
is, a mere majority in the electoral
college, without a popular plurality
would have been very unsatisfactory
A president could not put much heart
into his work if he knew that a
plurality of the voters favored the
election of another man.
The victory is more than party
triumph-it is highly creditable to
the country, and especially to that
part of the country which is reSpon-
sib1e for the result.
The record endorsed was of un-
paralleled excellence-so complete
that it left little to be hoped for dur
ing the next four years in the way OF
remedial legislation. Gratitude for
favors done is not nearly so active a
force in politics as expectation, and
in this case expectation had been
more than realized.
The peace argument evidently had
more weight than arguments based
upon economic progress; the country
is against war. 1t is opposed to in
PREVENTION in Mexico, and it protests
against being drawn into the war in
Europe. But for the high tariff delu-
sion still cherished by majority OF
the republicans, the victory would
have been even more sweeping than
it was-but it was enough.
And its value is greatly Increased
by the fact that it was won by the
west and south without the aid or
consent of the east The scepter has
passed from New York, and this is
sufficient glory for one year. And,
blessing upon blessing, Chicago has
as little to do with party's success as
New York. Even Indiana, which has
rested it's Quadrennial claim to the
vice-presidency on the ground that
it's electoral vote was necessary to
success-even Indiana has abdicated
the political throne and is now in the
"others also ran" class. 1T very
much simplifies politics. Heretofore,
New York has entered the conven-
tions of both parties arrogantly Of
fering no choice but to surrender to
it's dictation or defect and, it must
be admitted, New York has usually
been on the winning side. But this
time the people broke away and left
New York high ana dry" or rather,
high and wet, for it was the dry
states that furnished most of the
electoral votes. Twcnty-three dry
states and seventeen of them cast
their votes for Wilson and Marshall.
Here is the list-Virginia, North Car
DINA, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkan-
sas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Colo
RADIO, Kansas and Nebraska. Oregon
and West Virginia came near doing
81, and in addition to these the presi-
dent secured the votes of four more
in which the amendment will soon
be submitted. In Utah and New
Mexico both parties have declared in
favor OF submission; in Texas a
democratic primary has declared for
submission, and Florida's democracy
is committed to submission.
The party is now free to take up
the fight against the saloon-it must
do so unless it is willing to exchange
the support Of those who saved 1T
from the defeat for the support Of
those who in the year Of our Lord
1916 would have led it into slaugh-
ter house. w. J. BRYAN.