Evening star., 1922-10-29
BY THOMAS II. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President Of the United
States.

Former Vice President Of the United
7 HAVE been sitting around listen
Ing to those who are running for
office and to others who are not
= running, but hoping that without
putting their own qualifications to the
test of the ballot box. succe3s for their
party will spell sinecure for them. The
spirit Of prophesy seems to have des-
cended upon them all. Expectation Of re-
publican success is based upon the con
tention of campaign orators that the
first Cleveland administration cost the
people more money than the republi-
can administration that preceded 1t.
On the other hand, democratic speak
ers are convinced there is revulsion
against the present administration,
because Cleveland left full Treas
ury and returned to an empty one.
Each side has convinced itself that
things are going to be as 1t wants
them to be. and, therefore. prophesy
of SUCCESS Is as easy to indulge in as
falling of a log. ! know. because l
come of a race OF democrats who. In
the darkest hours Of their party, were
quite sure, before the votes were
counted. that 1t would be successful.
my father Is the recollection that
every four years about a week before
election day, he would come home
| with his face aglow with party en-
thusiasm.
"Tommie." he would say. things
never looked SO good for us. Do you
know, I would not be surprised II we
carried Pennsylvania this year"
Even when the returns revealed
that we had lost everything except
the solid south, father was not dis
mayed. His enthusiasm for the cause
was enduring; democratic hope sprang
eternal in his breast. His attitude to-
ward the party was much like the
loyalty of the old Scotch woman to
Bonnie Prince Charlie. Upbraided by
her friends, she did not attempt to de-
fend her conduct other than to say
Scotland though it hung upon a haw-
thorn bush.
The sharp lines touching the
principles of government which
once separated the democratic party
and its opponents, whether fighting
under the name of whig or republic
an. led to such settled convictions
that only a small per cent of the
people. were moved from their pre-
vious convictions by public discus
sion. Now, 1t would seem. that II
there is 10 per cent. who know what
they believe and are incapable Of be-
| ing convinced to the contrary, that
is more than so-called party leaders
Honestly expect.
The result of the election of 1920
| was as much a surprise to the victors
as it was to the vanquished. The
! principal effect that it had upon the
political life of the nation. as view
! it. was that it disclosed the emanci-
patton of millions of voters from the
! ties of party organization. Notice
was served upon men who make poli-
! tics a life business that. from that
time forward, medicine was not 60
| ing to be taken on account Of the Ia
bel on the bottle. or because of the
pictures and recommendations in the
public press And If / am not much
mistaken this sentiment has in
creased rather than decreased in the
! two years since the election.
l hear no longer any discussion OF
principles as principles of govern
ment I hear a discussion of course
ernment, but the discussion has moth
ing to do with principles that run
| broadly through governmental ac-
tivities. The man of every vocation
wants something done for him and
! his calling and is growing about the
! advantages given others. The ca
daver and the undertaken seem to be
; the only two who have no words
about the merits Of their respective
| cailings.
The campaign is personal save as it
is full of mutual elimination and re-
elimination of past political conduct.
| The Fordney tariff offers the only ex-
ception. and when I hear men talking
about the tariff / am not impressed that
they are discussing It as a great princi-
ple of government but are lauding or
damning individual items which affect
their own business. Meanwhile. what
about the consumers Of America? What
are these millions thinking and talking
| about? They are hearing democrats
like myself assert that this tariff will
enhance the cost OF living and make OF
| America hermit nation by separating
| her from the trade of the world. On the