The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1920-10-27
FOR A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS.

TN NUMBER of the states progressive Repub
licans will have to swallow hard when i
= comes to voting for party candidates for sen
ate or house. So far the presidential candidate
is concerned we think all but some few extremists
and mpracticals are convinced that under Hard
ing there will be no reaction The speech on social
justice was more than satisfactory to progressives
with open minds, and it carried exceptional
weight in view of the dignity and sincerity which
Senator Harding has shown throughout the cam
paign. Mr.. Harding does not make sweeping
promises because he knows sweeping promises
cannot be kept, and he evidently intends to keep
his promises. Set off against the pretentious
liberalism of Cox Mr.. Harding's position in
dustrial relations and social progress gains added
value for sound judgment and sincerity of feeling.
But there is denying the fact that in several
of the states ardent progressive Republicans will
find it difficult to support the Republican senator
ial nominees. Senator Wadsworth of New York
has fight on his hands because Of his unneces-
sariy obnoxious attitude toward woman suffrage.
In Connecticut Senator Brandegee has record Of
conservative opposition suffrage and other
measures of the progressive program. In Indiana
Senator Watson is veteran of the old guard
against whose rule progressive Republicanism
was the revolt. In Wisconsin Senator Lenroot,
though far from reactionary, has the unscrupu-
lous enmity of La Toilette
Here are men of different shades of opinion,
but all are Republicans, and if returned to the
senate will support Republican executive in car
rying out Republican policies and enacting Repub-
lican legislation.
This, we believe, is consideration which ought
to control progressive Republicans and even non
party Independents, if the latter are for whole
conna chanoa of administration RIt ar 1aact oil
Republicans, whether they of the progressive
or of the conservative wing, ought to refuse at
such time as this to be diverted from the funda-
mentals by issues not involved in this campaign.
Failure to give Senator Harding congress to
support him would be serious national misfor-
tune. What the country needs sorely is a
sistent, constructive program in foreign poll
cies and in domestic policies. We need to
establish great economies in public expenditures
Mr., Wilson and the Democrats, in coming into
power, not only undid the beginnings made by
President Taft but restored an old fashioned sys-
tenn of pork barrel politics. which has wasted the
public funds on scale unprecedented in our his
tory. If we are to have any relief from the heavy
burden of taxation-whch at its lightest must be
onerous for many years-We must have reor-
ganzation Of the federal business, such as the
present Republican congress has legislated for,
we must have drastic operation on pay rolls, and
a reform of methods and Encouragement of ma
chinery on lines of modern efficiency.
This will save hundreds of millions to the people
of this country at a time when their burdens are
heavy indeed.
Progressives, of all parties, ought also to re-
member that unless Republican senate is return
ed the reactionary phalanx of the south will hold
power again.
Finally, the failure to give the new president
support in congress threatens paralysis of move
ment in all lines of reconstruction This is time
OF peace, and there is no such compulsion as war
brings to ignore party considerations as the Re-
publicans did during 1917 and 1913 With Demo-
cratic senate we shall have partisan obstruction
to the whole Republican program of reform and
reconstruction.
Senator Harding, we are confident, will be the |
next president 1t should be made certain that he |
shall have congress which will join him in car
rying out consistent legislation and in supporting
patriotic policies at home and abroad. If Repub-
lican progressives are Republican, if they realize
as they should, the paramount issues before the
country, the preservation of American nationality,
the restoration of national prestige the accom-
plishment of essential economies and amendment
of the taxation sound lines, the protection and
encouragement u our foreign trade, the mamie
nance of law and order and the defense and stimu-
laton of Americanism then they will sink old diff
ferences and subsidiary doubts and send Repub-
1ican senators to Washington Nothing that is
held against any of the senators we have named
weighs in the balance with the fact that they are
in basic things Republicans and that their votes
are needed in the senate for the support of Repub-
lican administration and legislation at one of the
most critical periods of our history.-Ch Chicago Tri
bune.
AMENDMENT NO. l.