The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-20
Editor of North American Review Analyses Political Situa
ton and Forecasts Outstanding Issue Of the Next
Campaign Welcomes Test Between Con-
sentative and Radical Elements in
Our National Life

(The great political issue Of the day
is set forth as follows in the North
American Review:)
Mr.. Wilson could, ii he would, obtain
second denomination without a dis
senting vote, even in the face of the
Democratic party's solemn pronounce
ment declaring it to be 'the unwritten
law Of this Republic. established by
custom and usage of one hundred
years, and sanctioned by the examples
of the greatest and wisest of those
who founded and have maintained our
government that no man should be
eligible for third term of the presi
dental office" Nor is there much
doubt that he could prevent the nom.
nation of anyone whose candidacy
should be displeasing to him. OF his
power to dictate the nomination of
another than himself we feel far less
certain. Indeed, we are disposed to
think that at this point the party
leaders whom he has trampled upon
would draw the line and would be
able to WELD sufficient influence to
overcome or disintegrate the body Of
officeholding delegates upon whom the
administration would be compelled to
rely. AS against Mr.. McAdoo, for ex
ample, or Mr. Baker, who. as the most
efficient public official the president
has ever known, is his logical can
didate, the combined forces of Speak
er Clark, Mr.. Bryan and the leading
Southern senators would be arrayed
almost surely and would prevail.
Marshall Perhaps
Assuming, then, that Mr. Wilson
will not accept denomination, either
in consequence of having realized his
ambition to become the first president
of Society of Nations or from appre-
hension Of defeat at the polls, we may
expect him to retain as much of his
power as possible to the last moment
by the simple method of concealing his
real intention, and then meet the sit
uation as it may exist with character
istic determination. If our previous
hypothesis should prove to be cor
rect, the outcome would be nomination
OF one neither personally offensive to
Mr.. Wilson nor Objectionable to the
opposing leaders,-not improtably Mr..
Thomas Riley Marshall.
No Republican candidates have yet
been announced and none is likely to
be advanced seriously during the cal
endar year. Here Fabian policy is
unquestionably the part of wisdom.
Just as with the Wilson party, the
man will make the issue, so with the
Republicans the issue will produce
the man. AS matters now stand, the
conflict would range widely around
the conduct of the war, the unprepar-
edness for peace, government owner
ship, universal training. extravaganza,
taxation, finance, woman suffrage. en-
forcement Of prohibition, executive
autocracy, inefficiency and the like,
upon all of which the Democrats
would be put upon the defensive in
most embarrassing manner The tariff
will hardly play it's accustomed part
because of common assent that high
rates are absolutely essential at the
moment for both revenue and pro-
lection.
The Real Issue
But whether Mr.. Wilson achieves
his lofty international ambition or,
failing that, again audaciously defies
the people to repudiate his administra-
tion he will hardly care to go to the
country upon the record comprising
the subjects mentioned In any cir
cumstances, he would reach out for a
new and overwhelming issue, whose
discussion would allow full play for
his exceptional rhetorical and persuas-
i've powers. But even though he
should feel supremely confident of his
ability to justify his domestic policies
and performances, he would be I'M
able in this instance to restrict the
test. Gradually but irresistibly the
overpowering issue of the coming cam
paign is forming itself in perfect con-
formity with the presidents activities
abroad and his partially formulated
program at home.
The issue will be Socialism against
Americanism.
Mr.. Wilson no longer represents or
speaks for the United States, as diff
ferentiated from other nations, except
in so far as doing so enables him tech
nically to translate the voices which
burn his ears from the air into the
service of Humanity. He has forsaken
Nationallsm and espoused Internation-
alism. His proposed League or Asso-
citation of Nations is wide as the
world itself and, so far from confer
ring benefits upon this country, it not
only violates all of the traditions of
the Fathers of the Republic but, I'M
der any one of the plans yet suggest
ed, could not fail to add greatly to
our own burdens, to the enormous ad-
vantage Of Germany and, in lesser de-
gree, Of England, France and Italy,
as well as of the smaller states.
Innovation Dangerous
That so complete a reversal Of the
established policy, under which thus
far our own country has achieved it's
marvellous success, would involve ire
mendous sacrifice and constant danger
no advocate OF the proposal has, to
our knowledge, attempted to deny.