The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-13
ON SECOND THOUGHT
By JAY q. HOUSE.
(From PhiiadeIphia Public Lsdser.)
Mostly Politics.

Mostly Politics.
What we think about the election
| is unimportant. And it is well within
the bounds of possibility that 1t may
[ not be true. We're writing about II
| because there's nothing else to write
after an election is comparable Tor
dizziness only to a holiday. The diff
ference is that on the day after an
election everybody is tired and
''jumpy!' But we learned long ago
that an election is comparable TO a
tariff law in the respect that it doesn't
mean much of anything to us.
We suppose, being Republican.
we should be sobbing our heart out
because of the reverses sustained by
the Grand Old Party. There was a
time whe- such a reverse would have
wrung from us a cry s-gony. But
as matter of fact, we're as cold as
a glacier. We can remember when
the Republican party was made up OF
gentlemen and others who thought
alike on the issues of the day and were
willing to fight for what they con-
ceived to abe the principles OF the
party. Now the Republican party is
made up of gentlemen and others,
initiated into the organization and
who pay no dues toward it, upkeep.
The party to them merely is a refuge
"a postoffice address for personal
velop a Precipitation over that sort of
party, and we wish to b reliev of
the obligation to do so.
What we should like to do is to join
a party of kindr~5 souls party
made up of voters who think as we
think and who are willing to go to the
mat for it. Probably it would be a
minority partyS 1t mic,t never elect
a candidate to office. But it would
be party in which one could have
some pride of membership and for
which he would enjoy fighting. If
any one contemplates starting such
party. we trust our ap- -ication for
membership will be considered
There was much criticism because
the Congress which has just been
licked out of its boots was daTvdling
and futile, You can take it from US
that the one which succeeds it will
be no better. The country is having
a grand manifestation of triumphant
democracy. For years the forward
lockers contended that once party
lines were broken down we should
have a political condition as nearly
approximating the ideal as human en-
deavor could make it. Party lines
largely are broken down. The citi-
zenry is voting all over the place.
The result is sloth and futility in the
legislative halls and elsewhere. An
other panacea has failed to ''pan."
The fact is, nothing is ever done I'M
less somebody has the authority to
order it done. Unless tn, party is
supreme. nobody has authority to give
slfeh order. Things of Importance in
government are accomplished by
bosser organizations. Take the whip
away from the leader and you have
damned political achievement at its
source.
You don't believe it. Very well,
Beany, get ready to watch another
manifestation of triumphant, democ-
racy in Washington this winter and
next.
The one thing of moment accom-
plished in Tuesdays electi- IS was to
make prohibition an issue. Those who
believed that prohibition, nesting
safely in, the lap of the Constitution.
had become closed issue are due for
a rude awakening. The "wets" have
won their first real victory since the
American republic, state by state
began to lie UP under the banner of
prohibition. They have numbers,
they have~money, they will have or
the moment-perhaps for a long time
the backbone of law enforcement,
in SO far as it concerns prohibition,
will be a floating cartilage. The row
over prohibition will involve every
candidate for public office from the
top to the bottom of the ticket. He
will be menaced front and back, and
his chief concern will ne to find cover.
Now We haven't the faintest notion
that the prohibitory amendment is to
be deprived of it's sanctuary in the
Constitution. We doubt that there
will be modification of the Volstead
act. What this country faces is open
and notorious violation oe tn prohibit
tory laws and bitter guerilla warfare