The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-11-13
The Political Trend


little to do with the results OF the elec
tion5, republicans throughout the coun-
try are justified in some degree Of
elaton. Whatever the issues in the
states holding elections the TACT remains
that except in New Jersey and Mary
land the people turned TO the repub
lican party. In New Jersey the ques
tion Of prohibition overwhelmed all po
litical considerations and the demo
cratic candidate for governor won on
that issue alone, Maryland, usually a
close state, is still close. But elsewhere
the republican trend is very marked.
This, we say, is not due to any partic
ular party issues Of national character,
for no controlling national issues are
now clearly defined. But there is
dependable quality in republicanism
and in the republican party that causes
the people to turn in that direction in
times OF stress. There is something to
lean upon there, with an assurance Of
firmness and solidity. When the coun'
try is in an experimental mood it gives
the democrats a chance, but when it is
worried, when things are going wrong,
when there is need for determination,
it reaches out for stronger hand and
safer guidance. Mr., Wilson would not
have been elected in 1916 il the coun-
try had known that war could not be
averted, and when war came as much
ol a change as possible was made at
the first opportunity. And it is quite
plain that the face Of the people is still
turned toward the republican party.
Far above all else in national impor
tauce is the result in Massachusetts.
There the predominant issue was not
political in the party sense. The cues
tion there was, Shall the power CT gov
eminent to enforce the law and furnish
adequate protection to law abiding peo-
pie be sustained1 The strike Of the
Boston police force was a blow at or
derly government everywhere in the
country. II the police Of any city
could abandon the service to which
they are sworn, or ally themselves with
any class to further their own interests,
the people could have no assurance oil
the enforcement OF law, and any gov
eminent without that power is pilable
uavesty. The republican candidate
for governor, Mr.. Coolidge, who had
refused TO permit the striking police
men 10 return 10 their posts, stood, as
republican candidates always stand, for
the supremacy Of law. His democratic
opponent, Mr., Long, supported the
strike and appealed to the labor uniuls
to elect him. The election OF Mr..
Coolidge by the greatest majority ever
given a candidate in the history Of
Massachusetts, is a splendid victory for
Americanism that brings cheer and as
surance to all America. It was not
merely state election; it was national
election, for Massachusetts, there spoke
the voice OF the United States. It is
positive proof that the heart and the
mind Of this country are still sound,
And it is no mere coincidence that the
man who led this fight and won this
victory is a republican.
Kentucky, which gave Wilson a
} plurality Of 2S 900 in 1916, elects a
! republican governor by a plurality
almost as great as that. 1t is CON-
plete reversal, and although the cam
paign was based on state issues It was
party fight Tor party preference, and
the decision In this great state Of the
old solid south" was given to the re
publicars. Maryland, another south
stn state, also shows decided repub