Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-07-27

l n r. R')l n WHlCH W kE4t r. Ed TAFT
With Mr.. Hughes in the White
House and the republicans in control
of Congress. would the party not be
agitated by the question whether the
progressive influence or the old
guard influence should dominate the
administration? President Taft had
to meet that issue in the first six
months OF his term. when the tariff
was revised, could President Hughes
be saved from facing a similar crisis?
Would the rrogresslves and the con-
servatives under Hughes be more like
~ to have the same thoughts and hold
the same opinions and safeguard the
same interests than they did under
Taft? It must be seriously doubted
that they would. Aside from war ana
preparedness issues. which are sure to
be temporary In their prominence.
questions OF economic and social i'm
portance must come TO the front and
on these opinions will divide on lines
of individuaisn or colectivism, pri-
vate control. or government control.
The country will not see the reunited
Republican party entirely harmonious
on such issues. The American people
may be inclined at present to con-
servatism, but they are not likely to
restore the government to the sue
cessors of Mark Hanna
LESSON THE DONKEY LEARNED,
If there is one reason for thinking
that perhaps the Republican party in
power could leRislate and govern with
its old-time smoothness OF action and
/ III
dscerned in the striking success of
the Democratic party under President
Wilson in retaining unity while put
ting through a colossal legislative pro
gram. The democrats suffered a
schism In 1895 as disrupting as was
the republican schism in 1912: for years
the Democratic party was regarded as
! incapable OF the harmony essential 70
successful government May not the
republicans under Hughes easily re-
peat what the democrats have done
under Wilson. in this particulars
If the republicans had now been out
of power for l6 years instead of four,
! If they had been subjected to all Of the
kicks and cuffs received by steadily
defeated and Inundated party during
| that long period of political oppos-
| tion. they would be much more likely
| to repeat the democratic performance
during the Wilson administration.
When the democrats returned to pow
err. every democratic member of Con-
gress and every member of the demo-
| cratic administration had had pound
| ed into him by prolonged adversely
! the belief that, whatever happened
democrat must stand together, They
believed that the partys future ex-
istence was literally staked on the
maintenance OF democratic harmony
and democratic support of a demo-
cratic administration. At all costs
they must disprove the familiar charge
! that democrats could not work togeth-
er by compromising their differences
In order to gain the credit of positive
constructive achievement. 1t was that
pervading spirit in his party in Con-
gress that gave to President Wilson
| his opportunity.
THE DISCIPLINE OF RETIREMENT
1t would be cause for surprise If q
mere four years out Of office had givcr
to the republican factions the same in
tensity OF desire to make good as G
BILE of constructive tasks in govern,
ment that 16 years of exile in the will
derness had given to the democratic
factions Four years out of power Il
n political party is too much like
week Off to be OF much disciplinary
value, To be returned to office 50
very soon after a violent party quar-
rel and deeply rending cleavage woult
seem to teach the political lessons
that republicans may fight each othel
as bitterly as they please, even to tn,
length Of leaving the government II
the hands OF democrats and then h.
welcomed back forthwith to full hon
ors and full possessions of all govern
ment agencies, with very little of tn
glitter taken from the republican re
cord. II such were their experience
republicans might we'll renew thci
dissensions without fear Of being Wis
: tied with severe penalties by the peo
ple and so the merry war betwee
, prosressiyes and the old guard wouI