The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-11-05
A REPUBLICAN LANDSLIDE.

A REPUBLICAN LANDSLIDE.
The result of the election on Tues
day was really surprise to US. For
the reason may be that we had too
much faith in the patriotism and
sane good horse sense of the great
American people. We had no idea
that partisan politics and money
could WELD SO much influence in a
matter Of such vital moment. And
get It might have been worse. They
might have elected Debs and then
we would have had the spectacle Of
the president elect of the United
States being in penitentiary. But
then when he was inaugurated ne
could have issued pardon to HIM
seH and been released from prison.
This election only convinces US OF
the truth of what we have sometimes
felt to be the case even in our little
county and state primaries, and yet
We hated to believe it could be true
eyen there. And that is, as rule
the average voter never stops to
consider the fitness Of the man for
the Job as the ruling passion when
he comes to exercise the great privl-
ie1e. Of citizenship and casting his
vote For men for the various Of
ares. Fitness and ability FOR the
propef discharge Of the great respon-
abilities Of official position are gen
erally the last consideration Of the
average voter. The main question
il that he is a nice little fellow and
needs the job, or he shook hands
with me at the barbecue and the
other fellow did not, and the public
service may suffer so far as l am
concerned. That sort Of argument,
We, say, is too often indulged. And
fhen sometimes we do not vote for
thesnian so: much as we imagine we
aie voting against the other fellow
forssome real or imaginary wrong.
And that was the case we are con-
strained to believe largely controlling
III the selection Of president on Tues
day, and in this case not against the
candidats but as they imagined
against some one else who was a
supporter Of the candidate. Pity it
IS that it is true. The vote Tuesday
was NOT against that great and true
nan Jimmie Cox, but it was Intended
:to Be q vote against Woodrow VIII
son who will live in history as one OF
The great Americans long after mil
lions of those who imagined they
were getting even with him by vot-
ING against Cox are dead and forgot
ten. We believe that great many
Sgo6d and honest and patriotic men
,were and are against the league OF
nstions because they do not under
stand it. And then there was that
desire FOR change and the money
power seemed to be with the Repub-
Jeans and money counts as power
full influence in determining election
results.
But the country is safe, and Sena-
tor Harding is an honest and good
man. il he is not a man Of any re-
markable ability, and no doubt when
the great responsibility of the high
office to which he has been chosen
comes upon him and he realizes it he
win not be so easily led by those who
may imagine that he Will do their
bidding, and that he will assert his
own manhood and independence and
the country will move on just the
same.
: We heard some one say the other
day that part Of the propaganda OF
the Republican campaign was that
the Democrats had put down the price
Of cotton and the election Of the Re-
publican ticket meant an increase in
The ;,e of cotton and other farm
products. If that be true the farmer
will rejoice. 1t becomes the duty
now of all good citizens to uphold
the hands of the officers chosen and
to help them in the administration OF
their offices to make this a better
country in which to live, and that
after all should be the aim Of all
Of Us.