The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-11-09
THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS

THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS
Many and diverse will be the in
terpretations of the results of tn,
election Tuesday. 1t is perfectl.
plain, however, that 1t was a mes
sage of protest on the part of thu
voters in reputation of the men fl
office, for it was almost invariabl.
true that the ins went out and tn,
outs went in.
Nationally the most significan
result was the defeat of Freling
husen in New Jersey and Thompson
in Ohio, both friends of the Presi
dent, which together with the vast
increase in the number of demo.
cratic members elected to the sen.
ate and to the lower house of Con.
gress makes the control of the lat
ter body matter of doubt as this is
written Thursday morning.)
That the spirit of revolt against
both the parties was more or less
manifest is pointed to by the strong
vote which third party candidates
received wherever they were offered
to the voters, as evidenced in Idaho
and Minnesota where they returned
Samuels as second is the three cor
nered race, and in Minnesota where
the third party succeeded in defeat
ing Senator Frank b. Kellog by the
election of DR.. Shipstead. Hardly
less significant was the narrow es-
cape of Senator Cabot Lodge in
Massachusetts, the complete reversal
in New York, and the defeat of Bev-
eridge in Indiana which together
shook the republican control in ma
tional affairs to the very foundation.
Strange to say that with this
strong trend away from republican
leadership in national affairs was
the defeat of Senator Atlee Pome-
rene in Ohio, who was talked of as
the possible standard bearer Of
democracy in 1924, by Simeon Fess,
and the defeat of Senator Gilbert
Hitchcock in Nebraska by Howell.
These cases however showed the
consistent purpose of replacing men
in office.
The result in Oregon is almost
past understanding, judged by ordi-
nary political considerations. 1t Is
apparent that Mr.. Pierce by getting
into the campaign first with his ap-
peal on taxation captured the imag-
nation Of the voters before the Oh
colt campaign was under way. He
offered them what the people want,
lower taxes, and Notwithstanding
the fact that Oregon's present tax
bill is fixed charge, to large de-
gree due to bond issues, still they
gave that little consideration in
their desire and hope that change
might be beneficial.
Added to this of course was the
influence of the forces behind the
school bill which Mr.. Pierce en-
dorsed whose strength was largely
nder-estimated by those in charge
Of the Olcott campaign, and by
nearly everyone on the rim of the
state.
1t Is evident that in Oregon the
result was not due to party politics,
rs that term is generally used 1t
was a personal campaign and con-
.est between groups of divergent
opinion within both parties who
party lines entirely.
Strange indeed were the forces which
united to bring the results about.
Now that the election is over and
he bitterness engendered is evident
n the calm contemplation of re-
'ults, 1t is to be hoped that spirit
II tolerance will be manifested and
ecriminations cease. Those who |
lid not prevail should look their |
lOuStS ONtT anu tlutttNOi W ilhu IL
Iught be needed to put them in or
Ter and that this is done to the end
hat such a campaign will not again
10 the lot of Oregon.
The political history, not OF Amer
ca alone, but many other demo-
ratio nations as we'll, indicates that
he spirit of the contest just con-
luded is not the permanent attitude
I the people. 1t is a reflex from
he war and its passions will pass.
he coming few weeks and months
re the crucial ones. II good judg-
lent rules the majority now 1t will
asten the day when this election
'ill be forgotten and be but an in
ident In the history of oregon,
lnnlnln ITrlln