The Washington herald., 1920-11-02
Back to Everyday Needs.

silent snow Of the ballots follows
the cyconic oratory and floods of phrases
wherewith the politicians for four months past have
been trying to influence the people Somebody es-
Inmates that Presidential elections cost an
average S2ooooooo each. Our British friends, when
we question the cost of the trappings and appur-
tenanccs of their system Of royalty, point that
it costs more for to elect President in
four years than it does them to maintain King
for that whole period. Perhaps that may be so,
but at least get certain amount Of public edu-
cation out OF our way OF doing things
We would have proftcd more if those really es-
sential points OF domestic policy which of vital
Importance to the people had been debated in this
campaign They have the contrary been wholly
. ignored The paramount issue" of the league OF
nations has been thTeshed over with such infinite
variety of msstatenent that it is doubtful If any
voter will go to the polls today with any certainty
as to the position maintained by the men for whom
he purposes voting. And feeling he will cast
his vote protest against the outgoing admins
tration, Endorsement of it. According as
protests compare with Endorsements will the result
be. The issue that will be definitely settled
/ will be "Wilsonism."
II may be urged that issue includes most others.
It does in fact comprehend such issues postwar
UNl.a,-s,acc, aulocracy, the failure to administer
effectively our merchant marine, the complete col
lapse of the effort TO reduce costs Of living. But
discussion of it has not taken the form of sug-
= gested and explained remedies. There has been no
substitute in this campaign for the enlightened dis
cussion Of the tariff issue which resulted in the first
election OF Grover Cleveland, the widespread
j consideration OF the money issue which elected
/ William Mckinley.
Can it be urged that there are no issues today
which merit such exhaustive debate?
One has but to consider the growing evidences
OF economic dstrust and industrial unrest increas-
IT.
tion in the negative.
\ Taxes burdensome the indi-
vidual citizen as today. During the heat and ex-
ccitement of the war we bore them uncomplaningy
as part of the burden forced upon us by
sumption of a high and ennobling duty in that
fict But now the burden gals. Industry staggerS
and the individual cries out under it. But what
the promises made by the rivals for control of the
government, and how much chance have the people
been given to determine upon the merits of those
promises and the likelihood OF their fulflment?
= Even the profits tax, universally Com
demned as it is incentive to extravaganza and
hobblc upon industrial enterprise has had but
scanty attention paid by the political orators,
while the utterances Of the rival platforms the
subject cryptic that almost any action-or
inaction-may be expected under them.
We have had our long quarrel over the league
of nations, but that the election is accom-
pished let US all, citizens and officials alike get
down to the less romantic but more essential sub
ject of economic and industrial needs right here
at home. Let's have home rule league of our
own, and determine upon some mandates to be ex-
pressed to those officials whom shall elect today
so that they will come out of the international
orgy which has so long possessed us, and do little
legislating for the good of Uncle Sans common
stay-st-home people
We are properly grieved by the reports OF desti-
tuition and homelessness that to from Aus
tria and the Balkan countries, but while there is
admittedly shortage of 100000 houses in this
country, shortage which is not being met while
the number OF people needing homes continually
increases, we think we should be excused from fix
sing attention wholly upon those foreign priva-
lions
When a man cannot borrow money on Liberty
bonds m Washington to build himself house he
tell him that the great issue upon which this
election turn is whether shall break the
heart of the world by staying out of the league.
There is some heartbreaking right here and
now, and there is likely to be more, unless the
craftsmanship that is directed toward interna-
fonal problems only shall be employed in averting
evils which lower own horizon
And therefore we hope that just as soon as the
exalted ones who may triumph in the election o
today shall have recuperated after their campaign
exertons they will turn to consideration Of those
vulgar, everyday issues involved in the need o
every for shelter food and clothing and steady
employment that he may provide himself with al
three