Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-18
A REPENTANT
BACKSLIDER
From The Philadelphia Record.

After about eight months OF en-
deavor | am 10th TO admit that the
Republican Administration has dug
itself into the unproductive field Of
ridiculous ineptitude. and as conse-
auence | have a right TO declare and
classify II as a huge joke.
In common with others / expected
much in view of the promises made.
We are getting nothing except a tariff
and a tax bill, and both of these mea-
sures are fun OF political INT.
whether they are enacted or thrown
into the waste asket, no great end
will be achieved. Neither Of the mea-
sures will set in motion the idle ma
chinery. or give employment to the
unemployed.
IL Is realized, now more than ever,
that the tariff bill was conceived with
view to reward those who contribut-
ed toward the seven million slush fund
used by the Republican party during
the last campaign. And 1t Is also
realized that the tax bill was con-
ceived with a view TO reducing the
taxes of the rich. while the poor must
pay the piper.
The sponsors OF these measures are
afraid OF them. They talk OF them
only in the cloak-rooms,. and then
only in whispers. But they cannot re-
cede. They assured the country that
all would benefit by their enactment.
To go back now would be an admis-
sion of inadequate foresight and a
II blurred vision. Proceed they must.
The Administration whip is cracking.
The sound OF 1t keeps vibrating
through the two chambers. With
gnashing of teeth and with heart
oualms the great Republican majority
will vote, and vote right. to secure
the passage of the tariff and the "a
measures.
The political doom of many Repub-
licans is sealed. They candidly admit
it. But they cannot be irregular. That
would not be wise. The orders have
tcome from those now presiding over
the dsstinies of the party, and to DIS
obey would also mean political ruin
} Therefore they must vote, the willing
tools of grasping and greedy masters
To those who have looked upon th'
political bugaboos, the tarin ana th'
tax bills. with a degree of disfaVor, th'
: assurance has been given that th'
enormity of legislation would be les
sened by the cry of economy. Yes
'tis true. many young men and youni
women are being deprived OF thei
positions, and are being replaced 0.
: politicians, with salaries much In eN
cess of the ones discharged. Q, Econ
omy. what hypocrisy is being prachce'
in your name!
But here is one voter who may o
led to the trough. but he is not goini
IN drink. as heretofore, the Repub
4 lican political piffie. He Is going bac
u straight and true to the old shi
n Democracy, which may have failing'
e vet in all things she has been honest
she has been true to her trust, an
e she has left a heritage of accomr
: hshments unequaled, and that WI
'e never be equaled, by this or any othe
Ie Republican party until 1t is regenei
le ated.
= might add that 1 am Pennsy
ID vanian and, like my father before m
have been Democrat. He rea
" "The Record" and so do 1, each morr
g. ing. | followed the teachings of IN
b. great newspaper until the last Pres
IN dental election, when l felt, like mar
1e thousands of others, that a chan'
nj was desired. l did not know why.
y. could not square my che nge of fee
Oe ing with my conscience. But | vote
q and for President Harding.
90 The day afterward, and every ~d'
since / realized that I~sinned, and W
=, fully, against very great man
- man whose intellect cannot be excel
!. by any living American; whose goo
10 ness and pureness of heart is appare
~ to every student of political histoi
- and whose honesty of purpose and 10
he of his fenowmen cannot be honest
questioned.
o. In view of what he has done, a
ne what he tried TO do, and in view
g. what his Administration did, l am !
'p- turning, meekly and humbly, to
IN Democratic party, the real party
b. the people, and with It l shall rems
ew all the time because l know il stands
We right and Justice. Bill Bradley
nd Washington, d. c., Oct. Z, 1921.