The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1920-07-15

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inant IN both parties taken into Ii.
account, what l. to b the position o.
the Independent progressives!
In both parties the Old Guard ha,
definitely taken charge. Murphy ant
Taggart and Brennan were dominant
at San Francisco. just a. 6moot and
Brandegee and their senatorial col
leagues were dominant ut Chicago. In
both parties the candidates are sue
cessful men Of affairs, with long ex-
perience with public questions and
public office. Neither is well known
outside Of his own state. Neither
could be called national figure.
In contrast to the present occupant
OF the White House there is every
reason to suppose that either Senator
Harding or Governor Cox would give
great weight to the advice Of the
party leaders. Whichever is elected,
the government for the next four
years will represent tendencies en-
bodied in the influential men in the
dominant party.
What are those tendencies?
For the moment the sharp line that
was drawn between progressives and
conservatives in the great battle Of
1912 has been blurred. Tho more im-
portant principles for which the pro-
grsssives made their fight have be-
come more or less commonplaces OF
politics. They are not all adopted.
but they Aave furnished the general
programs for state legislation and
ara widely in process Of being req
lied. The distance the country has
travelled is indicated in such a revolu-
tionary measure as the railroad law.
with its immense extension Of govern
ment control. Eight years ago it would
have been denounced by the standpat-
ters as rank socialism. Today it is
passed with hardly . ripple.
Just at present, then, the nation
has paused to organize its life on the
more advanced base that has been
taken up. The struggle undoubtedly
will develop again as things become
adjusted and new issues arise. But
in this campaign the old-time pro-
ssive-conservative issues are in
allegiance.
New issues. or sets of issues, have
taken their place. These have devel-
oped in three principal groups:
L. International relations, includ-
ing the League of Nations;
2. The liquor question, including
the interpretative modification of the
amendment;
8. The efficient administration of.
The Democratic party is necessarily |
committed through it's inheritance
from the Wilson administration to the
League of Nations as presented by
President Wilson. This virtually
binds the United States to take hand
n all European quarrels as an ally
n the group that is undertaking to
manage and control Europe. The Re-
publican leaders are against this
cheme and are committed to an ex-
ension Of international arbitration
through judicial tribunals substitut-
ng, as they put it, judicial action for
Iction in accordance with political
The Democratic party has nominat-
d candidate widely advertised as
yet. He was fought in the conven-
ion by the dry forces headed by Mr..
Ryan and the Anti-Saloon League,
nd was supported by all the wet in
arests.
While it is expected he will declare
imself for law enforcement, his in
Iuence is counted on to break down !
he eighteenth amendment. The ?
ublican party. through the influences .
nat control it, is committed to main
lining prohibition 1t was well I'M
arstood at San Francisco that the {
in nominating Governor J
OK, abandoned hope of carving dry ,
.rritory, and staked everything on !
lie wet vote of the East. \
The Democratic party must accept S
le responsibility of the inefficienrSi \
the Wilson administration for fail :
e to make even the most elementary 7
separations for war, for the extraya-
lnce and delay in the conduct of the {
ar, for maintaining and refusing. to !,
wise a clumsy and unscientific sys- 2
m of taxation, and for hardness IN p
sting back to a peace basis. The B
today is staggering under :,
penditures, just IS the country is Z
lggering under its load Of taxes. Yet q
e Republican congress cut nearly
billoin dollars out Of the administra- b
IN estimates. There is no hope Of
Y radical change in attitude from
e party that inherits the traditions C
the Wilson administration. There
plenty Of evidence that the Repub
an leaders are keenly alive to the -