Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-11
Sly Chances at the
Political Field

Our rotten primary laws uTc ptdT-
ing fruit. Candidates galore are
out with all kinds Of platforms to
catch. votes A horse thief's name
may Look just as good on the ballot
as the greatest statesman. Our best
statesman are not being selected Tor
office and they have little inclina-
ton to join the disgusting army or
self boosters. A press bureau with
plenty of money and demagogic Will
ingness to appeal to the passions
and prejudices of the people are sue
cessful qualifications In the primary
One would hardly suppose any
sane man would want the democratic
nomination for president and be
obliged to defend the wicked waste
of money, the destruction of govern
ment property, and the taking the
White house to Europe for the pur-
pose Of signing away American inde-
pendence and granting power to
foreign league to conscript our young
mon to fight their quarrels. ana that
we act as godfather to any country
that was too shiftleSs to care for
itself. Yet we find plenty OF demo-
Gratis anxious for this Job. Gerard
is first on the ballot with swallow
'em whole" platform and the quail
fication that he has travelled In Ger
MANY and written book. A host
OF democrats are watchfully and
prayerfully waiting for Woodrow to
saw the track IL clear from White
House obstruction. Champ Clark,
who was swindled out of the noml-
nation when it was equal to an elec,
tion. wants 1t; and while 1t would
seem brutaily cruel, the party might
ease its conscience by nominating
him by acclamation. Son-in-law
McAdoo seems perfectly confident
that at the psychological moment
he will become heir to the
absolutely ignored by the present
throne and will be allowed to make
a moving picture campaign. But
the biggest surprisee Is that Bryan
who was supposed to have peen
knocked into a cooked hat Tor an
time" is back and will throw the
old cooked hat in the ring.
The fact that the outlook FOR the
republican party seems almost sure
NAV prove its downfall by overcon,
fidence. The people are tired ana
disgusted with misgovernmeht' put
they are not going to be fooled WIN
any che kept US out or war trch,
whether played by republicans OF
democrats. Republicans need not
think they can strengthen thelr
cause by a military candidate or
military training plank, no mater
how seducingly drawn. The real
lighting blood is opposed and they
will count in the coming election.
For seven wears the democrats have
been groveling before the labor un-
ions as we'll as capitalists; laws are
dictated, forbidden and ignored with
a frequency that has disgraced our
government The labor question:
should be met regardless OF the Vot-
ing power of organizations; and laws
enacted that will give a non-unlon
laborers or farmer the same oppor-
tunity, and the same voice IN gov
ernment affairs as those VINO are
members of unions. That the former
class. which represents so per cent OF
the real toilers of America, have been
absolutely ignored by the present
administration is disgrace that Will
follow it to it's burial.
The republican platform should
be boiled down to few plain words
full of meaning. 1t may seem OLD
fashioned. but this would be a GOOD
time to reaffirm our faith and 10y
altv to the constitution. Candidates
should not be chosen as to location
hut for real worth in statesmanshlp
and their courage to stand Tor rlsnt
and Justice to all citizens. Iaft mas
DESTROYED his influence by his ar
castle building for enforced peace
and his seeming willingness to sWai-
low iany old league as starter
Hughes has been altogether too mum
on the league to be a leader. Borah
and Johnson stand out as men with
the courage of their convlctlons.
THE country owes them debt for
their determination not to allow the
nresident to poison the minds OF the
people against the senate Wheh IL
was working its best to protect our
interests and rescue the country from
the troubles Wilson and his hano-
picked statesmen had brought upon
US.
senator Lodge without doubt mas
in the past year done more iof ms
country and thereby for ms party
than any other one man. lie warned
the president that no treaty cqulo
be ratified unless our interests were
protected Oh. What "orlu os %
trouble would have been saved II
his .lQNlc ildu DSSl iSSN'N''
senate counciled in making tne
treaty. When the treaty was n
nally given to the senate. purposey
mixed up with the league in way
that Wilson didl not believe IT couia
be turned down it was Lodge that
eyposed its dangers and ORGANIZED
the forces to save our country. Whlie
we have many men who did gooo
service against the league Senator
Reed stands out for courage IN put
ting his governments interests aboVs
party or his personal popularity.
would that we had more government
officials like him. 1t takes true cour-
age to stand out against ones party
administration, but it should be dohe
when our country's cause is helhs
threatened and the few faithful dem
ocrats that have never flinched from
their duty are worthy of all praise.
The Georgia senator who declares
that Article 10 is vicious and should
he torn out bodily stands in CONTRAST
to Hitchcock who would have forced
the league on our people regardless
of consequences But then it was ne
who would have tied the allies hands
while Germany pounded them TO
pieces. a u hANhiN