The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-11-18
by ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington. Nov. Is. - Especial =
For more than a quarter OF a century
1t has been the dream OF a certain
class or politicians to secure an ALI
ance between the south and the west.
Ii began before the first Bryan cam
paign, Blu 1t was the hope Of Bryan
and his followers to win with the
south and the west. 1t seemed posi-
BILE that such a result might he accor-
plished, but In those days a few states
stood out or remained true to the Re
publican party. and the unincation
failed.
In n campaign an effort was made
to re-establish the old alliance between
the New York group and the south.
which twice elected Cleveland. but
that failed, and 1t was also observed
that the western states returned TO Re
publicanism.
South and West Unite.
1t remained for Woodrow Wilson. a
resident of an eastern state, but a man
Of southern birth, to bring about the
unification OF the south and the west.
The southern states and that large
group west OF the Missouri river seem
to have come together. 1t Is not ex-
actly a political alliance. but 1t tends
very much In that direction.
This new alliance or tendency would
indicate that the south and the west
are getting together upon the lines OF
progressiveness or radicalism. The leg
islative program of President Wilson
sympathy In both these sections. He
Is a Democratic president inclined to-
ward the masses and against what has
long been termed special privilege"
Beyond doubt great wealth, big bust
ness and corporate interests opposed
Wilson, while the radical elements and
the poorer people were for him.
II Is easily shown that the group of
states which voted strongly against
President Wilson are. with few excep-
fions. the centers OF wealth and indus
tries which oppose radical or progress
sive tendencies In the government.
Will u Last7
Next to the fact that the south and
west have united. the most important
question Is whether such a political
union will last, whether the southern
states will continue 20 be radical and
the western states anti-high tariff and
In opposition to Republican principles.
Only another election will decide the
queetion, and IL may be that long be
fore the people vote again new issues
alignment Of sections.
In fact, the conditions which brought
the south and west together In the re-
cent election are not all based upon
radicalism or progressiveness. The
south votes Democratic whether the
party at the time is progressive or
conservative. With a progressive ad-
ministration tending toward radical
ism the new alliance might last. but
there were other issues In the recent
campaign which viii disappear and
perhaps with them the amalgamation
OF these two sections.
Mormons Return 20 Democracy.
We all know that religion often cuts
a wide swath Ia politics. In a number
OF western states the Mormon church
has been a most important factor.
Twenty years ago the church was In
clined to Democracy. Then Utah was
represented by Democrats. Afterward
the church went to the Republicans,
and Utah became so solidly Republic
an that 1t was n OF two states that
voted for Taft I'm 1912.
This year 1t appears that the Nor.
mons have gone over to the Demo.
Gratis. Utah. Nevada, Idaho, Wyo-
ming. Arizona. Colorado, New Mexico
and parts OF Montana, Washington
and Oregon are subject to Mormon In.
f~iuence, and the results In those states
show that the uneasiness which the
Republicans felt early In the cam.
paign over the attitude OF the Mormon
church was well founded. lust what
caused the shift from the Republican
to the Democratic party is a mystery.
sRsessvslt Taught EN-"
The vest went back on u.s." has
been the lamentation OF several Re.
publicans.
Roosevelt taught EN- to vote indie,
p~endently four years ago. and they
haven't forgotten how" was the reply
Of q Democrat.
Two Old ouardsmsn.
Harry New and Jim Watson. the
men who will succeed Kern and Tag.
CART from Indiana In the senate, are
two Old Guardsmen. New was one OF
those members Of the Republican m.
tional committee who In 1912 ''went
down the line" and seated enough del
eentes to secure the nomination OF
Taft Watson was the door leader Of
tho Taft forces In the convention
hssdling the parliamentary question:
ana making the move necessary h
carry out the plans Of the men whs
Woeo thers to nominate Taft