Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-06-17
THE REAL ISSUE
Both Political Parties Have Differ
ences in Own Ranks Over Policies

Republicans of the more positive
type have noted with some appre-
hension the absence of the old time
ringing declaration" which char
acterized party platforms when
slavery, free trade and free silver is
sues drew a line of Cleavage as wide
as the ocean between the two parties.
On these paramount issues a demo-
crat was democrat and a republic
can a republican. Every man be-
lieved the gold standard was either
all right or all wrong. He believed
slavery was right or he believed it
was wrong. He believed free trade
was the best policy for this country
or he believed in protective tariff.
And he believed it with the fervor of
"a saint.
Today it cannot be said that the
parties themselves differ so radically
upon many issues. Many of the old
time issues are not to the fore. Both
parties have a division in their ranks
upon the question OF the league of
nations. President Wilson sought
to make it the paramount issue.
Democrats differ with democrats and
republicans differ with republicans
on this question. 1t is difference
largely of degree. Most men and
women want league of some kind,
or an international tribunal-some
kind of an organization that will
crystalline the earnest desire of all
to avoid the terrible scourge of war.
Most of them too have vague fear
of the Wilson compact. Many think
it exceedingly dangerous. The great
powers were willing to accept the
notifications proposed by the sem
ate. President Wilson casting aside
the judgment of many of the best
men in his own party and in the re-
publican party as we'll insister, de-
manded that it be accepted or re-
jected without change. The result
was that it failed.
But Wilson cannot make ii the
paramount issue in this campaign,
and even il he did it is doubtful IL
he could win. His attitude has been
about as consistent as to demand
that a man wear a black suit of
clothes or none at all.
The truth is the great issue in this
campaign is the demand for change
in the control of governmental af-
fairs. The people are sick and tired
of the confusion, the mismanage-
ment and the burdens which the
democratic administration has
heaped upon them. The extrav-
agance and wastefulness, the uncer-
tainty the vacillation of the admin
istration, its inability to cope with
the situation at critical moments
have made the people restless and
afraid. The country is like ship
whose captain and crew scorn the
charted seas. The passengers want
a new man at the wheel and new
sailors educated in the good old
school.
The democratic party and Mr.. Will
son are on trial, not the league of
nations.
Perhaps Mr.. Lodge put it in a
harsh way, but he sounded the key
note and stated the issue when he
said that the wHvsp dynasty, it's
heirs and assigns must be driven
from control of the government
That was the ringing declaration
of the convention and the platform
serves to make clear the charges up
on which the indictment is found.
In 1912 the democratic platform
contained a plank as follows: I'VE
favor single presidential term, and
to that end urge the adoption of an
amendment to the constitution max
ing the president of the United States
ineligible for reelection, and we
pledge the candidate of this conven-
ton to this principle Wilson was
the candidate they pledged to that
principle. Maybe he meant the one
term should be for life.