Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-09

"Of late years the old parties-that is, the
dominant parties the parties which have
chance to get into ofice-have not originated
questions or initiated policies If they have
any experimenting to do they do it after the
election. They have followed the rule for
many years of taking issues and the policies
which have been advanced by some maverick
organization, after these issues and policies
had been tried out to such an extent as to test
public opinion. The despised abolitionists
gave us the slavery question, the populists
gave us the money question, band of de-
voted people who were called fanatics gave
us the prohibition question, and Alice Paul
handed the two great parties an amendment
to the constitution of the United States, TAX
ing suffrage away from the states, and told
them to pass it. And both parties are now
grabbing for it, not on its merits, but as a
matter Of expediency. i
"Mr McAdoo went to the country to see
about the third Liberty loan and someone
slipped him note saying, before you re-
revenue law taking so per cent of the war
profts-signed-The People The Non-par-
tisan league and the labor forces may hand us
the question of public ownership. But they
will not likely do so in time for either party
to be safe in declaring for or against it in
1920 1t will no doubt be discussed n spots
in the campaign, and will be furthered by
either of the parties after the election an
case public opinion seems to sustain it.
THE fact is, Our political campaigns are
on plane far below the average intelligence
and patriotism of the voters. They indicate
but little what will be done under the admin
istration which is to be elected. In attempt
ing to place our campaigns on level with the
mental processes of the average voter we
have fallen far below. If our political cam
paigns were characterized by proposed con-
structive programs and undoubted initiative
| in policies and plans the voters would more
enthusiastically respond, and there would be
far more faith in their own parties.
There is listlessness among American
voters even in our most important campaigns
which is menacing in the extreme. In one
state alone at the last presidential campaign
more than 10000 voters remained away
from the polls. If we could have more live
| issues and more courageous statements Of
public questions we would not have to have
so much money to run campaigns. Fortu.
nately administrations are always upon q
| higher grade than the campaign would ind
| cate.
But whoever is elected, whatever the
| SdHlpdlSH issues may DC, tHe administration
beginning March 4, 1921, will be compelled
to deal with problems as vital and funda
mental as any with which political partie:
have had to do in our entire history. There
have only been two periods of equal momen
and similar import-the period following thu
Inauguration OF the government in 1889 ane
the period following the civil war. Their,
were giants in those days and there shoulc
be giants for the coming task. If the Amer
lean people love their institutions and ar,
devoted to our republic they will select thei
public servants from this time on with Wig
lance of scrutiny and singleness of purpos
equal to or greater than that ever displayed
heretofore by the electorate in this dountry
And the salvation of the republic depend
upon the people-the strength of mind an,
clarity of purpose of the average voter
"Democracies tend to make moral COW
ards of public men. Unless the people ris