Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-13
Wanted, Issues for the Campaign Of 1920

Wanted, Issues for the Campaign OF 1920
D EPUBLICAN national committeeman,
~ meeting in Chicago, overlooked no
chances in connection with the 1890 presi-
dental campaign, even 10 the opening OF
their party love feast with prayer. They
are in something Of plight. Their one big
political asset has been snatched from them
in the denth Of Theodore Roosevelt. With
him alive, it is admitted even by many Demo
Gratis he would have been the party's candi-
date or would have dictated the nomination,
and with his dynamic force 4 factor in the
campaign it would have had better than
even chance to win. even had Wilson been
persuaded to stand for another term.
Now all is changed. Roosevelt, the party
n>ainstay, is dead, the G. o. p. leaders are
tossing about without a pilot, and there is
no rudder to their wobbly political ship.
Hays, whose patriotism during the war was
not regarded 100 per cent pure, has been
endued with pienary power as to the conduct
of the campaign, which in itself is sign of
the weakness that suddenly has come upon
the party. He is attempting to shelve the
question OF candidates, knowing that the
woods will be full of them and hoping that
the party lightning may strike a winner
Meanwhile, he seeks for issues and can find
none except in envenomed attacks on the
Democratic administration, II that may be
seems to embrace nothing beyond the hope of
cementing the Republican ranks through
laudation OF the dead Roosevelt, whom so
recently most of the old-Iine Republicans
were denouncing as a political deserter and
party traitor; playing for the women's vote
with declaration for universal suffrage. and
carrsing long knife for the administration
and the South. So far as has been revealed.
there Is not one constructive plank in his
platform.
Even the war has not enabled the Renub.
Leans to forget old sectional lines, and they
seek to fan anew the feeling between the
North and the South because the latter Is in
control OF the national Congress, while tho
former, so they allege, pays so per cent OF
the Federal taxes. But even the possession
OF major part OF the national wealth would
not argue a monopoly Of administrative
ABILITY, and what this administration, con-
trolled by the South, If they will have It so,
mas accomplished in the past years is monu-
mehtal evidence which confates the Northern
jealousy Let 1t be granted that there has
been some extravaganza In the past year and
half. There was no economy in the Huns
War-makins program, and he was met and
Qetsated with his own weapons America
VIII be satisfied when the books finally IRE
balanced.
Hays and his fellow politicians would In,
terPret PRESIDENT Wilson's ideals which al
most the whole world accepts and appIauds.
as an appeal and aid to Bolsheviksm. in
stead of what they are, huIwark arajoet
II, The animus and righteousness OF this is
TOO obvious to lead any one astray or equu,
political transpa rency is the demand for tho
immediate return OF the railroads to tbei,
private owners, with the implied charge that
the Democrats have seized them with the
intention OF keeping them. II is the Repuh
iicans who have been trying to foist upop
the country the issue Of railroad ownership and
TO place the Democrats in the position OF adj
vocating 1T as party measure. This will
pc another case OF manufactured issue
failing them in their extremity.
Altogether Hays is in difficulties and the
more he founders the deeper he mires, He
Will have to produce something more sub
stantiai than sectional hatred on the part of
the North and unsupported deuunciation of
the administration before he can hone 10
make the voters, either North or South for
get the glorious record. which stands omen
for all the world to read, and subscribe TO
hls real platform, which Is, Anything TO get
back into Office