The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-06-29
HALE AND KELLOGG.


Once more the Democrats have been con-
founded by their own line of argument. When
Senator New of Indiana, a personal friend Of
President Harding, was defeated by Beverage
for the Senatorial nomination, the Democrats in
Senate and editorial sanctums heralded the re-
suit as reputation of the Harding adminis-
tration. The Republicans denied that it had
any such Significance. Now Senator Freder-
lex Hale, Of Maine, apparently a closer per-
sonal friend of Harding than Senator New,
has been renominated by two to one vote, as
also has Senator Kellogg of Minnesota, con-
sistent supporter of Hardings administration.
If the Democrats were right in asserting that
the defeat of New by very narrow margin was
a Reputation of Harding, they cannot get away
from the conclusion that the overwhelming re-
nomination of Hale and Kellogg is a hearty
endorsement of the administration.
But the Republicans have taken the right
view from the beginning. 1t is the height of
absurdity to argue that the votes Of the people
in party primary for or against one man con-
stitute either an endorsement or Reputation
of some other man who is not candidate and
in no way involved in the campaign. The votes
in the primaries above mentioned mean only
one thing definitely - that the Republicans
of Indiana prefer Beveridge for their candidate
the Republicans Of Maine prefer Hale and the
Republicans Of Minnesota prefer Kellogg. In
Vulnerable local and personal influences affect
the choice Of candidates. In lifetime of per-
sonal associations and political activities men
form friendships and enmities, they please
and displease, they magnify one issue in one
state and another issuesin a different state
President Harding has kept entirely out of the
Senatorial and Congressional campaigns and
neither he nor his administration has been an
issue in the Republican primaries in any state
Of course a President could be an issue in
Senatorial campaign President Wilson some
times made himself an issue by aggressively
taking sides and to some extent the result was
reputation or an endorsement of Wilson,
but even then the personal characteristics of
the candidates and the principles for which
they stood, had at least as great bearing up
on the contest as had the preferences of Mr..
Wilson. To assume otherwise would be a gross
reflection upon our system of popular repre-
sentative government.
When the general election comes, the situa-
ton will be different. Then the issue will be
between Republicans and Democrats, and the
President will be involved in the campaign,
although even then the Congressional and
Senatorial elections will not be fought entirely
on the record of the President. The record
of each individual member of the legislative
body who stands for reelection will be the
first consideration Nevertheless, control of
the two Houses of Congress by safe margin
indicates the political complexion of the
nation.
Just at present the Republicans have an alb
normal majority in each House more than
they can reasonably expect to hold To lose
some Congressman whose election in 1920 was
due to the landslide against the Democratic
party, would be no Reputation of Republican,
ism Of course the Republicans will fight for
every seat they now hold, and for more.