The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-04-04
THE INDEPENDENT VOTE.

Washington, ID. c. - Some OF th'
Irecent utterances of former Secretar!
of the Treasury McAdoo would bf
humorous if they were not such pa
Ithettic display OF ignorance OF recon
IAmerican history" says the RepuD
lican Publicity Association. IN NIL
latest public address Mr.. McAdoo say
that what this country needs most If
a large non-partisan citizenship, man
ifestly meaning thereby large indie
pendent vote. His real purpose, OF
course, is to endeavor TO draw from
the present Republican aftiliation
large portion of its support. In an
earlier but also recent address Mt
IMcAdoo charged the deflation move
to the Republican party notwithstand-
ing that II was started and practically
contaminated before the Republicans
came into power.
III Mr.. McAdoo had but recalled the
election returns from the last three
presidential elections he would scarce
ly have made his statement regarding
the need for large independent vote.
This nation is normally Republican,
as shown by the elections for the last
sixty years. In 1912, however, at the
close of a Republican administration,
the large independent vote manifested
itself in q three-cornered campaign
which resulted in approximately g.
SOC, 900 votes for tibet Republican can
didate, 100000 for the Democratic
candidate and 100000 for the Pro-
gressive candidate. It Is unanimously
agreed that most Of thte Roosevelt
Progressive vote was really Repub-
lican in principle, for the Progressive
platform included in its principles
many Of the time honored teachings of
the Republican party. The totatl vote
for 1.-THE Republican and the Progress
i've candidates exceeded the vote for
the Democratic candidate. 1t was the
independent vote which went to
Roosevelt that resulted in the election
Of Mr.. Wilson.
although the nation still believed
in the fundamental Republican prin-
ciples when the campaign Of 1916 was
fought. the Democrats were clever
enough to put np a plea that ignored
partisan political issues. BY adroitly
forcing to the front the plea that
President Wilson kept US out Of war"
the Democrats wereenabled to win q
considerable portion Of the independ-
ent vote and continue themselves In
political power. No one has ever had
the audacity to assert that Mr.. Wilson
could have won OH straight party
issue with the fundamental party prin-
ciples paramount In the discussions of
the campaign.
"Thc combined votes OF THE Repub-
lican and Progressive candidates In
1912 exceeded the Democratic vote In
the proportion OF about ~ TO 8, and
that IL probably somewhere near the
normal ratio when the issues are
drawn on differences OF political prin-
ciple. The independent vote manifest
ed itself again In 1920 when Mr.. Hard
Ing won by u vote OF 10000 900 against
1000 900 for Mr.. Cor This wac a plu
rality OF 100000 yotci which no one
will contend represents the real dir
ference between the Republican and
Democratic strength, The Independent
vote. thoroughly dissatified with the
I'M Americanism, tho extravaganza,
tho autocracy and tho inefiiclency OF
The Wilson Administration. went over.
whslmingIy 20 tho Republican candl.
date, Many man who was o believer
IN The fundamental principles OF tho