Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-06-09

dictionary politicians who have been
in control of the policies of this Gov
ernment must go back to the people.
Already the truth is beginning to
dawn in Washington that the men
and women of this country rlay not
be fooled indefinitely, that they enter
tain the same sound sentiments re-
garding public policies that other
generations of Americans have held,
and that so fast as thew get the
measure of unfaithful public servants
they will retire them from office, re-
gardless of party, or faction, or en-
dorsement.
Some time ago, Congressman Cop
ley of Illinois, advocate of the EsCh-
Cummins law-and sponsor FOR the
sales tax, the dye embargo, and re-
duced surtaxes on large incomes,
member of the House Ways ard
Means Committee-sought approval
of his record in the primaries in his
state. A candidate running on a pro-
gressive platform, advocating repeal
of the Esch-Cummins law and de-
nouncing Copley's record of regular
ity," defeated him by round major
ity of $500 votes.
A little later, Senator Harry S.
New, also defender of the Esch
Cummins law, and one Of the inner
circle of the Old Guard, asked a re-
newal of his commission for six more
years. He appealed to the people of
Indiana on the basis of his record of
"loyalty" to the administration, which
included votes to seat Newberry and
to bind the United States to the terms
of the Four Power Pact. Senator
New, and the principles he cspoUsed,
were repudiated by 10000 majority.
The returns from Pennsylvania are
equally unsatisfactory to those ,ho
artlessly believed that reactionary
policies might be promulgated by the
party in power for the benefit Of
favored special interests-2nd that
the people would not resent it. =
Clifford Pinchot was nominated for
governor in that state. Commenting
upon his victory the New York World
says editorially:
"All the special interests that lave
controlled Pennsylvania politics for
years were lined up against hin--the
Republican organization, the rail
roads, the mines, the great corpora
tions and the financial interests that
have so long been the government of
the State-and he beat then.
His opponents described him varously
as an atheist, and anarchist, social
ist, a Bolshevist, single-taXer, an
advocate of confscation, visionary
reformer and a dangerous radical;
but Mr.. Pinchot kept after the ma
chine"
A chance remark which fell from
the lips of "stand pat" Senator in
Washington the other day accurately
reveals the temper with which the
Old Guard faces the primary elections
yet to be held
Word had just reached the Capital
that New was beaten. Bemonaing
the fate that had befallen his friend,
the Senator vented his feelings in a
phrase:
Damn the primary"
There you have the philosophy of
stand patism and reaction, epitomized
in three words more luminous with
truth than all the descriptive words
that could be penned.
The same forces in Wisconsin and
elsewhere which fought the primary
with every available weapon of OBJ
struction and misrepresentation, un-
able to destroy an elective device
which they have cause to fear, are
now out to divide their progressive
raise false issues, and
thus defeat the very purpose of the
primary by thwarting the public will.
The great underlying issue of 1922
is precisely the same as the issue
upon which the Progressives of Wis
consin in the nineties gained the sup
port of the people and later carried
their program-like flaming torch
to the other states of the Union.
The issue is simply the old division
between those public men and classes
of citizens who would preserve the
equal opportunity and individual free
dom of the Constitution, for the
of the people, and those who
would pervert the Government, and
use tne taxing power, CHe Cdf1I
system, federal regulation of railroad
rates and the natural resources of the
country, to enrich certain fav0 ed
Special Interests.
No man of ordinary intelligence can
study the campaigns which are row
being waged in different sections of
the country without recognizing the
pame of the reactionary forces.
With diabolical cunning, the re-
endeavor to hide their real
purposes from the public view. 1t
would not do, it seems, to put their
case squarely before the people.
Wherever possible, when particular
ly reacticnary tool of the Special
Interests must defend particular
ly obnoxious record before his con-
the powerful forces behind
him obtain letter of endorsement |
from some pseudo progressive in
Washington who is willing to pro-
stitute himself for the purpose. This>l
subterfuge has been tried in Illinois