Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1919-11-05
YESTERDAYS ELECTIONS.

IN YESTERDAYS elections, two democratic and two
publican governors were elected with fifth in doubt
Prohibition won in Ohio and Kentucky and lost in New
Jersey Only local issues involved and the widest
stretch OF imagination cannot construe political moral
out of the election.
There is as yet no dividing issue before the people,
unless it be the league of nations which although ad
mnistration has the loyal support of many
publicans but the opposition of the republican machine
in congress, well scattered democratic antagon
ism No say what the campaign issue of 1920 will
be.
Yet we are told by the partisan press that because
Podunk elected republican councilman that the country
is tred of democratic nefficiency and laundering of
ydallyng and pussy footing, and that some red
pusuces wanted in the political system at Washing
tom and that the election the call of the people for
the good old graft of protective tariff and the republican
party.
For the past year the republicans have controlled
both houses of congress- and have accomplished nothing
The "dily dalying and pussyfooting products Of
the republican caucus 1t is Senator Lodge and his fol-
lowers who have blocked the peace treaty. fought the
league Of nations and marked time failed to solve the
railroad reconstruction and other pressing problems
while the country plunged deeper into the of indus
trial unrest.
Not that there is much difference between the repub
cans and democrats in congressonly when the latter
were in control the president enabled to force through
great measures which he is poweress do now We had
action thenWe have inaction today unless an unendng
flow OF words constitute deeds We have executive lead
ership but legislative inacton
1t is fearful thing to contemplate but America Sc
cured world leadership under democrat an unforgve-
able sin to the partisan Therefore we must coniure up
the protective tariff falacy other issue of the
dead and forgotten past to retain the leadership under re-
publicans.
With most Of the gold of the world in our possession
with every nation deeply in debt with the industries
OF the world PROSTATE and most of Europe ruined and
with every American factory running full
schedule and prosperity pevadng the land and dinner
buckets full the only need of protective tariff is to fur
her enrich the proteer and provide seats for the hungry
at the political piecoter which is all the tariff ever did
Most people get their politics as they get their re-
igon--by inheritance and the cap-trap appeal to pre-
udce and party passion still ouweghs the appeal to rea
son. If were otherwise would not hear such peure
arguments for the restoration of discarded fetch long
since obsolete We would have offered some real soh
tons Of the vital problems confronting the nation in this
crisis OF industrial tulmoila construction program to
advance human welfare That is what the people are
looking fornot the old discarded slogans for political
spolls perpetuatng social injustice
Unless the old parties furnish such progressive pro-
gram in keeping with the ideals of the democracy of the
world we may expect the rank and file of the people
to turn to ne wpares for leadership and listen to the
seductive charletanism Of Bolhsevism When a party
loses its dealsas many of the politicians of both par
ties have it loses its vitality and ceases to be worth while
save to the office seeker and the profiteer.