New-York tribune., 1919-03-05

acted more quickly and with more resent
ment. One observant woman thought tina.
hansan men were quite as paciistic as Kan
san women. There is no way of deciding
the question of fact, but the preponderant
guess gives the women of Kansas the major
credit or blame for swinging the state to
Wilson in 1916
1t was no one thing, however, that brought
about the complete revuson in Kansas.
The wheat price was large factor. Had
Mr.. Hoover fixed all food prices, and espe-
cially II the price of cotton had been fixed,
the farmer would not have felt aggrieved
AS 1t was. he rampaged violently, and all
his old notions of the Democratic party as
a thing of sectionalsm were confirmed.
In a dozen ways President Wilson shocked
the non-partisan allegiance of Kansas.
Negatively, his failure to use Republicans in
responsible positions added fuel to the fire
of criticism. General Woods presence in
the state and his widespread popularity with
the men at Camp Funston and their fathers
and mothers accentuated the issue Of hi,
treatment at the hands of the Adminjstra-
ton. General Woods lips were sealed. his
speeches were wholly patriotic and inner
sonal. But Kansas watched him and ad-
mred him and drew her own conclusions.
Inc voters came to the eve of election
ahenatcd and doubling; and it was Prcsi
dent wilson's own act. his partisan apncal
for votes, that removed all doubts doubt
if this appeal struck any state quite az
hard a. it did Kansas, farreachiny as uas
It's effect elsewhere. | was told in Toneka
re rortv a.
IN the streets to discuss it; the whole town
stirred with indignation. "The Wichita
beacon closed its campaign thus:
w hile the boys OF Kansas. OF which
most OF them are presumably Republicans.
arc giving their lives, while YOUR sons.
YOUR brothers and YOUR relatives are
making their supreme sacrifice, snug
politicians are sitting back in their oasv
chairs and smacking their lips over the
rAitif advantage that is TO accrue, and
are using party advantage to elect such
men as Champ Clark, who compared
drafted men TO convicts and fought the
most important war measure; Henry
FORD, the profiteer father of sheltered
Stacker son; Kitchn, who boasted that
'he North was to pay for the war; Dent,
who fought the draft bill, and others Ike
them The Presidential edict covers them
all. They are Democrats-tha is suf-
ficent.
The American boys are winning. They
have turned the tide and they did so
with the name Lusitania' on their lips
the Lusltania that went unayenped two
years because of Democratic vacillation.
They have been falling and dying with
that name on their lips. And out of their
suffering and their victories, which are
Just now bearing their fruit in the rews
from Europe, we have expected lofty
and inspiring message of good cheer and
appreciation TO people of both great par
ties. to all true Americans, who have
gladly given all they could to make the
world free. What do we receive?
From the President we get the mes
sage: Vote for one but men Of my
party
From the Vice-President we get the
message: The war is Democratic
asset
And is it for this that the boys have
died?'
After that day there was no more ques-
tons of whether Kansas was pro-Wilson or
not. or Republican or not. II had wan
dercd into n strange land, conhdinC in lofty,
appeals, and it considered that il had been
meanly deceived. 1t was glad enough to re-
turn home.