The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-02-19
PUBLIC OEMANDFOR
DEMOCRACY STRONG
HOoVER'S UNIQUE POLITICAL
VIEWS HAVE BROUGHT HIM
INTO THE IiMElIGhT
0RGAN|zEDLABOR FACTOR TO CONSIDER
Washington Still Believes President
Wilson May Run Again On One
Leg II Necessary.
by j. T.. Jones.

] BY j. f. Jones
' Inc political situation surely is in
, teresting. Viewed from the angle OF
non'partisanship the declaration of MI
| tHoover that he will support the party
that stands for the League of Nations
, Eis unique as coming from man sup
, ported by the Curtis publications, the
/, New York World and other great news.
papers. 1t is doubtful if any other
; probable candidate has ever refused
to Identify himself with any party.
Among the senators there is a per-
feet avalanche of candidates for the
republican nomination, and General
Wood and number of governors of
states have their lightning rods aloft.
Among the republicans there ap-
pears TO be cocksuredness born ap-
parenuy of the rout of the democrats
with reference to the treaty and the
rdlsorganization among democratic
leaders as shown in the refusal of the
party caucus of congressman to en-
dorse the presidents proposal for uni
versai military training. That the
democrats are somewhat discouraged
is evidenced by the fact that no pep
is being put behind suggestions to
nominate any leader in the party.
! In Washington the belief does not
down that President Wilson is willing
to run again, In fact his position with
regard to the treaty is taken as an
indication that he believes he can go
before the people next fall and win
out on that issue. But again, there
is Mr.. Bryan-long since 1.-THE Boy
Orator of the Platte" and today the
grand old man of his party. Mr.. Bryan
tried for a long time after leaving the
cabinet to remain on close terms with
the president, but when the coldness
towards his proposals became notably
marked lie finally turned to his own
way, and gradually he and Mr.. Wilson
drifteG apart No one knows of any
break between the two. 1t would
be better to say that the feeling has
Thre are some democrats who be-
lieve that Mr.. Bryan would like the
democratic nomination for himself. but
most people are inclined to the opinion
that he is seeking to dominate the
next convention, principally to clinch
the position of the democrats as the
party of prohibition. In doing these
acts Mr.. Bryan may be expected to
follow his past course of selecting his
own candidate for president, just as
he did at the Baltimore convention.
The Nebraskan has the knife in his
boot for the chairman of the demo-
cratic national committee and the gov.
ernor of New Jersey.
The position of organized labor is
a big factor to be reckoned with in
the coming campaign, and Mr.. Com
pers stands at the head Of an "execu-
tive committee" of three to pass upon
the qualifications of all candidates for
office, from president down to mem
bers of the legislatures in the states. |
These three men claim that they have
the authority of enough union men in |
the country to elect or defeat any can
didate, and the prejudiced and auto
cratic Mr.. Gompers will spend sea-
son in "daming and blessing" friends
and enemies He will attempt to say
who is the friend or the foe of the
n M, nj I
he best men in the country are work
ng on an industrial plan that will IT.
'ord courts and tribunals for labor dis.
)utes and proper representation of all
earners in industry. Mr. Gompers
'nce undertook such job, at the sug-
sestion of the president, but walked
,ut of the conference OF which he was
| member, in huff.
Soft speech and big stick is re.
hinder of the Rooseveltian days and
S used to remind us that it Is still
idyisable to speak softly and carry
big stick" since the insstent de-
nands OF railway operators made of
he very eve of the passing of legis-
alton necessary to the restoring of ,
he railroads to their owners and the .
ermination of the farce of govern /,
nent operation could have been in ,
pired by no other purpose than that 6
Il throwing a monkey-wrench into the ;
business of government Just why
President Wilson and the railroad ad-
should be expected, con-
istently, to agree to demands for
wage increases three weeks before
he government should withdraw from q
he management of the carriers, can t
ot be explained upon any other basis y
han that the brotherhoods had taken t