The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-16
4 RETURN TO
POLITICAL
NORMALLY
Election Results Last
Week Indicate That
People Are Turning
Against Republican
Rule
By WALLACE BRAsSFORD

Washington, D. c., Nov 12-The
elections held in various states last
Tuesday would indicate a good be-
ginning in the return to political
normalcy. Such q decided drift. oc-
curing in q general Congressional
election, o: in the Presidential elec-
ticn, would place the Democrats in
power. 1t is true that not a great
deal was gained in the election in
the way of offices or new power,
but much is accomplished for the
future by the heartcning influence
OF decided victories in hall q dozen
states. giving proof that it is easi-
ly possible to turn the Republicans
out Of the House of Representatives
next fall. While the election in
New York has attracted the great
er attention, those in Virginia. Ken
tuckey and Maryland were very i'm
portant as showing that the Repub-
Hcan high tide Of a year ago has
been rolled back, and that all dam
ger of breaking the solid Demo-
cratic South has again passed. Part
Of this result can doubtless be trac-
ed to the President, blunder in go
ing into the heart Of the South as
the guest OF the Southern white
people and saying at birmingham
whether you like it or not. you
have TO give the negro political and
economic equality" This came
when Colonel Anderson, the Re-
publican candidate for Governor Of
Virginia. was running on plat
form that called for the removal of
all restrictions on negro suffrage i'll
the State. He was defeated by the
largest ma aiority ever rolled up II
the Old Dominion, even the Slemp
district. Republican for years, go
ing Democratic. In a year from
now Slemp has to go before the
people and overcome q 900 DEM
ocratic majority in his District.
If the result in New York means
anything, it means that the DEM
ocrats can look forward 10 the
election of a Governor and full
State ticket next fall. y strong.
young Democratic candidate from
up-stateS-such q man as Franklin
Roosevelt CT Peter G.. Ten Eyck-
would appeal strongly 20 the politi-
cal logic Of the situation. 1t is
evident that Tammany. strongly in
trenched. is in position to give the
best sort of account Of the greater
city. while a strong campaigner OF
personal popularity upstate would
be able TO crystaliZe to his own sup
port the growing dissatisfaction
with State and National administra-
tions. Roosevelt's campaign as the
Democratic candidate for Vice
president made him many friends,
while Ten Eyck serving in Con-
gress from a district usually Re
publican, showed fine vote-gettlnS
strength against the Harding land
slide last year His home city, AL
bany. has just elected its first
Democratic mayor in % years. He
is young, popular, q real Democrat,
comes of one Of the old and leading
families of the State with genera
tions Of clean records, behind him
and occupies q position Of peculiar
and increasing possibilities. His
career will be worth watching.
The more one observes the man.
euvers Of the group Of Republican
Senators known as the Agricultural!
Eloc. the more one is forced to the
conclusion that it is. more thai.
anything else. u shrewd scheme 10
hold in line and keep satisfied the
large voting population in the West
that cannot remain Quiescent wh:le
their party seems under the dOm;-
nation of the big eastern interests.
The fight the Western Senators are
making in the Senate slants greatly
in the direction OF. a hippodrome
performance. If the Agricultural
Bloc succeeds in holding the great
bulk of the Western Republican
voters in line until next fall. some
skins and remain in position to lead
their flockS up to the polls three
Years hence to vote for the re-
election OF al administration colt
stantly under the control of the
big moneycd interests. the same
interests that selected Mellon for
the Treasury portfolio and which
are now succeeding in securing
great reductions in the income sur
taxes. such rs cutting almost half
in two tie taxes on incomes above
one million dollars. 1t is apparent
that the tax bill, when the weary
public finally sees it enacted into
law. will reduce taxes most to:'
those Who need the reduction The
least. More and more are the old
political observers in Washington
reminded OF the administrations Of
Harrison and TAFT. Both Wrr"
dominated by the money power.
both We're repudiatcd at the Cor
src$aional elections in the nEiddl"
OF their only term III oific". aad
both We're defeated for rc-"lrcti"n.
The Springfield Mass. Ecpuhii-
can says that Nh Harding ml%At
have =trrlhfully said that the South
offers the negro more OF economlt'
opportunity than the North. W n"
remembers the race riot 4;
Springfield. H.. I.incuinS home
town. which grow out of the qu"s-