Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-07
E D 1T O RIA
A SORT OF REACTION.

Ii is difficult to interpret the result Of the congressional cleo
tons, which indicate a disposition to restore the republican party to
power, in any other light than that of a sort of reaction against the
recent tendencies toward what may be termed Liberalism.
No one seriously questions the good intentions of President
Wilson,-that il to say, no one but d very partisan partisan, such, for
instance, as Colonel Roosevelt.
But there is serious thought on the part Of a large element within
the industrial and commercial pursuits who incline to the view that
the president is somewhat radical in thought; that he is possessed
Of the idea that something should be taken from those who have
plenty and to spare and apportoned among those who have less than
Is required for ease and comfort Of living.
III other words, there are not d few who believe that the pesi-
dents political views toward a phase OF socialism that would
place large industrial enterprises under a more direct control Of the
government, as the president has already taken over certain OF the
public utilities during the war.
Senator Lewis of Illinois recently gave expression to the thought
that the Democratic party, in the next campaign, is likely to champion
the principle of governmental ownership OF public utilities, under the
indirect if not the direct leadership Of MI. Wilson.
While this is no part Of socialism, as socialists understand it,
III lis SO termed by the average man, and has been 81 termed in no
uncertain way by such men as Chairman Hays Of the republican party
and BY Colonel Roosevelt, acknowledged to be one Of its chief spokes-
The business interests of the country-the legitimate business IN
terests, as distinguished from those that are a virtual monopoly
within their respective lnes-have beeh filed to overfowng with the
fear that governmental ownership, even of the railroads, would be
but the entering wedge for further stcncroachments upon the do
main oil private enterprise. They seem to be willing, if necessary, to
90 10 the other extreme, for the time being at all events, in order
that this entering wedge may not be driven home, thus serving as the
forerunner Of similar action along other lines.
This is evident from the general course OF the cities and villages
throughout the west and the northwest, in which the distinctiyely
labor vote IS comparatively light, in according such overwhelming
support to the republican party in last Tuesday 5 election.
The result OF the election will serve to suspend the trend toward
the naturalization Of public utilities during the life OF the new con
gress, 1T IT he true that the republican party has carried the lower
branch, for with the exception of South Dakota, SC far as our OBJ
servations have extended, the republican party is most pronouncedly
adverse to- federalizng public utilities, notwithstanding the trend
toward the manipulation of such enterprises III certain sections
of the west and northwest.
lis true that the war issue served Its purpose during the earlier
part of the campaign. The republican management put the war for
ward as the clef element for party victory, but before the campaign
closed 1t became evident that tho war was also drawing to IA close
and the question of reconstruction, with the republicans in opposition
nationaazng of The means of transportation became the absorbing
topic with t.e republca Management.
I8ut, unless the greatest care, and the highest degree Of wisdom
sare combined Id the earlier stages of reconstruction, assuming that
Nthe war will be brought to a close before the ushering in Of the new
years there will he q reaction from the reaction, and the drift toward
ttie form III socialism, Of which the republican management has
eomplained may Be revived.
&sMith the gradual lowering Of prices that will naturally FOL