The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-07-23
WHAT The PEOPLE ARE SAYING

In the last few issues we have beer
giving our readers the benefit of edi
torials from papers supporting the
two great parties in this country. II
may not be amiss for them to know
what is being said by some of those
who are neither republicans no,
democrats, or either as suits their
fancy. The following editorial is
from the Dearborn Independent,
Ford's International weekly:
disappointed by the utter alb
sence of public spirit and response
bility in the national conventions OF
the Republican and Democratic par
ties, the independent American peo-
ple have succumbed to a sense of
deep disgust for partisan politics in
general. This is most wholesome re-
action and it would promise well for
the nation, were there not danger of
a further reaction toward apathy.
The politicians count more cor
fdently than the people realize on
that interval of time which stretches
between the summer conventions and
the November election. # the elec-
tioa were to be held today, and if the
law required half the number Of
votes to be cast as were cast at the
last Presidential election before a
candidate could be chosen, there
would not be enough woes cast TO-
day to elect either of the candidates
to the office for which the parties
have chosen them.
The Republican Convention was
openly and, shamelessly dominated
by the financial representatives of
the powers that pull governmental
influences like strings. The party's
own methods were clogged and SOIL
ed with shameless money scandals.
Progressivism and clean republican
ism were snubbed, insulted and
crushed at every turn. The delegates
were euchred, wearied, driven and
deceived. And the candidate who
emerged from this cnaos vas even
more colorless than the Republican
Platform, if anything more coiorless
can be conceived.
The Democratic Convention was,
if anything, degree worse, because
there was an attempt made at San
Francisco which had no parallel at
Chicago-the convention was at least
given a flaming opportunity to de-
clare it's adherence the moral ad-
vance made by the American people
with regard to the liquor traffic. But
the hand of the defunct and dis
graceful whisky business was heavy
upon the men who controlled that
convention. Paid agents, who were
both public officials and private re-
tainers, were in evidence everywhere.
There was no question, not even the
League of Nations, which received
the slavish attention which booze re-
ceived. The whole convention re-
sembled mere ''hang over" from
the saloon regime than . gathering
of American citizens se:ec;ed to
formulate. policies for the solution
of the problems which harass the ma
ton and the world. And a candidate,
as unknown and as amendable to
control as the Republican candidate,
was put forth for the high office of
President.
The defeat Of McAdoo and the de-
feat of the movement to insert wet
plank in the platform were the two
strong actions of the Democratic
Convention, but these were neutral
lied by the selection Of Cox. The
McAdoo candidacy was one of the
most cleverly engineered pieces of
political shrewdness in the party an
mails cf the United States. That it
was heavily financed is a foregone
conclusion, but the utmos: endeav-
ors of skilled Investigators Iaiied to
reveal its source, that is, with de-
gree of certainty that would Justify
public exposure Its source, however,
is generally known, and the defeat
of a man; it was the dereat Of a
group whose exposure aiic the des-