Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-04-27
OFFICIAL cITrAHD cOUHTYPApER.

public sentiment and it is not sur
prising to find decided registration
of discomfort. Parallels to the general
situation now existing are in recent
times only to be found in 1912 and in
the great populist movement OF the
COS.
The developments each week nee
essitate a new balancing of public
sentiment. Both the republican and
democratic camps are divided Dy
forces entertaining irreconcilable
principles.
Nebraska, accentuated by opposition
to the treaty and the league OF ma
tions, was easily won by Senator Hi
ram Johnson. A lavish campaign
could not swing the vote for General
Wood. Iowa has swung into line with
Governor Lowden, its wealthy far
mers agreeing with reactionary tend
encies. Michigan proved the battle
ground for clean or polluted politics
and, perhaps as a result. of the recent
Newberry trial, Senator Johnson sur
prised conservatives by a fair and
square victory. Wisconsin has re-
fused to indorse the uninstructed re-
publican ticket and instead will send
Senator LaFollette's progressives to
the convention to vote for the senator
on the first several ballots and then, it
is reported, to swing into line for
Senator Johnson. And in all this fight
Mr.. Hoover looms up as possibility.
The conservatives, who desire an I'M
obtrusive program, not reactiOnary
nor particularly progressive, are prob
ably best represented by Mr.. Hoover:
the republican reactiOnaries, who de-
sire military training, the league of ma
tiOns with slight reservations, and
prompt governmental action in regard
to industrial disputes and a continu-
ance of laws like the Espionage Act,
will support General Wood and Gov
ernor or Colonel" Lowden; the pro-
gressives, opposed to all reaction and
TO the league of nations and treaty of
peace, will throw their support to Sen
atOr Johnson.
Will the two extremes, totally dis
agreeing on many vital issues, be re-
cOnciled? How the liberals who from
the republican left could agree to sup
port a candidate of the reactionaries
is inconceivable. The progressives
may bore from within for the pre-
sent but it is questionable whether
they will continue to do so through
the presidential campaign.
Let no one be under the impression
that the democrats are going to their
national convention at San Francisco
with harmony reigning among all fac
tions. The democrats, according to
one presidential candidate. also have,
an ultra radical group. The Georgia
election of delegates to a state party
convention is singly indicative of the
fight that is to come. T. L. Watson.
a comparatively poor man, has waged
an increasingly hot fight against Sen
ator Hoke Smith and Atty. Gen. Pal
mer. MIR. Watson obtained a plurality
or popular votes in the election. yet
he will not possess a majority at the
state meet. He opposes the league of
nations and the treaty of peace en-
Irely. Atty. Gen. Palmer is standing
pat with the administration, and
Senator Smith asks the adoption of
the Lodge reservations. At the state
convention Mr.. Watson will have 40
votes, Senator Smith ia. and ATTY.
Gen. Palmer 140 votes. The Georgia
election, TO say the least, has proved
a disappointment to the White House.
In Nebraska William j. Bryan has
been selected as a delegate at large but
not without tremendous fight. The
democratic convention would be lost
without him but his presence will pre-
cipitate formidable series of debates
without a doubt. Mr.. Bryan will sure
iy have much to say in defense of the
eighteenth amendment if the question
of prohibition is preached as Governor
Edwards of New Jersey promises it
will be- The democrats will have their
progressive element and their anti
treaty faction to deal with-there will
be no pacific gathering bossed exclu-
sively by either Mr. Bryan or the
president. To cap the climax former
democratic senator from Illinois made
statement in Kansas, according to
a brief news dispatch. that the coun-
try must be prepared for the nominal
ton of President Wilson for third
term!
Viewing the array of party candi-
dates, the labyrinth of issues and the
general political situation impartially.
any honest critic will say that neither
OF the old parties can be over-conf-
dent of their ground. A third party
and third presidential candidate. a
triangle fight, is quite possible. There
is much pressure for a third party
and there are numerous leaders for
a liberal movement; an increasing
number of concientious voters. it APP
pears. feel they are now throwing
their votes away-or they fail 10 vote.
No one can bank on present align
ments.
The purpose of the meeting of the