Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-09
"GIOry Enough for Al"

IT is not often that a series of elections in
this country gives assurance and satisfac-
ton in equal measure to all hands. 1t is
not often that both political parties are able
to point with pride" to the results, and to
extract comfort from situations where defeat
seems most pronounced. But the balloting
which took place last Tuesday seems TO have
gratted everybody. except, OF course. that
half Of the candidates who failed TO receive
majOritieS.
The Democrats were apparently victorious
in two great States The Republicans were
undoubtedly victorious in as many. although
the Massachusetts result cannot be properly
hailed as party triumph iii the old sense OF
the word The vets all Endorsement in
one quarter and the drys appear to have won
an Endorsement in another. II only face
values were regarded in analyzing the
turns the outcome of the voting would seem
to be q stand-of.
Actually this is not the case. Actually the
Democratic party has recorded a handsome
moral victory. 1t has more than held its
own. 1t has stopped stampede which
threatened to sweep the whole country. 1t
has engineered a counteroffensve which has
been lkened to the final battle of the Marine.
when the German tide was arrested and the
hostile horde of invaders was sent reeUng
backward.
When it is realized that Democratic
tickets in all quarters went into the recent
campaign with almost overwhelming hand-
caps, it is easy TO asr,c with the party lead
erS that the successes in Nav Jersey and
Maryland more than countcrbalance the loss
of Kentucky and the mighty majority given
to Governor Coolidge in Massachusetts.
That there is a pronounced reaction
throughout the country against the party
in power is fact too patent for argument.
One finds evidence Of it OH every hand. And
it is exactly the same sort OF reaction which
hn fol n inst nf
Democrat, President. II is the result
OF cumulative i'll feeling the part OF many
millions OF American people. The men who
have been under rigid government restraint;
whose excessive profits taken from
them; whose income was heavily taxed;
whose boys were drafted or killed or
manned: whose properties were damaged-in
short, the men everywhere who entertain
grievances of one sort another-want to
hit at the government. Many of them dare
not complain openly or admit aloud that
they have been pnched, but every Demo-
cratic candidate for Office in these days
knows how such men vote when in the prI-
vacy OF a polling booth.
In view OF this dissatisfaction and this
unreasoning, but militant prejudice, it IS,
perhaps, remarkable that Democrats should
win in any close State, and it is certainly
remarkable that a Democrat should overturn
Republican majority of $4,000 in an
Eastern State like New Jersey The signifi-
canoe Of this is sufficient to hearten those
Democratic leaders who had looked with a
degree Of hopelessness upon party prospects
since the Republican landslide just year
ago
1t is not unlikely that there is n reaction
against the reaction now setting in, and that
the pendulum may swing back as the coun-
try sobery realizes the magnificent achieve
mcnts of the Democratic administration dur
ing the past seven years