Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-03-03
FRIDAY ], MARCH 5, 1922.

RsAfSA - o.
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1922.
Speaker Gillett appears to have at
last given up the belief that the res
publican party can produce prosperity
by the mere fact of its being in power.
He has written a dismal wall to his
constituents up AT Springfield, y Mass:
After promising themaa new federal
building, which appears to have been
promised for some years, he uses these
truthful but gloomy sentence :: s,ss /
receive many expressions Of disappoint-
ment with the work of congress. This
is quite natural. Some of our legisla-
ton, notably the tax bill, has excited
great disapproval I do not pretend
that / have supported all that we have
done. On the contrary, some Of the
measures have passed against my ener-
getic opposition. The Industrial de-
preston intensifes the criticism of
congress. Men suffering from idleness
or ruin look to us. to save them; moth
ing can bring prosperity again except
self denying economy land incessant,
productive work. - With those frank
admissions going over the country in
cold type from the man who heads the
present congress, it is difficult to see
how Republicans can ask for reelection
next fall at the hands Of those S':suffer-
ing from idleness or ruin,'' which the
speaker admits his party is helpless
to relieve.
While addressing the League of &c
publican clubs in Washington recently,
the president made a damaging display
Of his toryism. Only those who read
widely and keep close observation are
aware Of the extent of Harding's re-
dictionary tendencies. Harding has
shown that he believes in the bosses
handling and controlling conventions
He was always a bitter anti-Rooseveit
man and always opposed Teddy, who
believed in the primary. He condoned
the action of the convention that nom
mated Taft when everyone knew the
masses Of the party wanted Roosevelt
Students of politics understand that an
infalEble test of a public mans attl
tude on the great principles OF govern
ment is found in the nominating meth
cd which he favors. Those who be'1eve
in progressive democracy condemn tn'
old convention system with all its ma
nipulation, trickery and fraud. Pres1
dent Harding takes his stand wltf
those who still believe in the bosslsn
of a few leaders, who dictate policies
and candidates. In the address men
toned, the president said: ~ Wool(
rather trust the declarations OF a party
expressing the conscience OF its mem
bership in a representative convention
hooking forward to a. successful appea
tn The conscience and convictions o
the country, than I would to tn
enhemeral whims of passing moment
in nublic life. I wish dared-l WILL
saw 1T CRAV e the return OF inteH'
cent conventions I had rather hav'
men appeal for. popular support on tn
pronouncements Of party conventions
uttering their convictions, than to nav
the appeal of the individual for his par
ticular locality + - -:....
OF course, the president had reasol
for tdistaste for primaries--he submit
ted, his candidacy to the people in tn
primaries and got turned down, OUT
few bosses, in hotel room, mace mn
president of the United States. Is"
he has raised an issue that is tuii o
dynamite. People remember Taft 3 re
marks, about q the whims Of the major
itv,, and "the gusty passions OF tn
mob.'' Much water has gone over IN
wheel since them great war has pee
fought and won by the people OF TIM
country, but there are those who re
member that those expressions dla :;
vast deal in the work Of putting lai
ont of the White House. Millions STU
believe that our government derives ,e
lust powers from the consent OF IN
governed, and they don't propose q
Permanently delegate those powers t.
a few bosses in hotel rom SOM
blocks from the convention nall.
The Presidents remarks are par
and parcel of the plan Of the republlca'
bosses to destroy the primary system
"a shown in Minnesota by the conVcn
ton system, established by the las
legislature with the hope that 1t IS gu
a forerunner Of doing away with III III
primary altogether. But the peopl
are against them and we look Tor
different view by the next LEGISLATURE
# the people are alive as to wnat sta az
ia taken on these matters by leglsla
tive candidates. ..:.-,
WOODROW WILSON :
The following editorial on woooro'