Evening star., 1923-04-11
EDITORIAL DIGEST

methods. There was no hope for de-
cency under Thompson" Somewhat
further emphasizing the local charac-
ter Of the outcome. the Milwaukee
ing that. nationally, II may seem to
swell last falls wave of reaction
against the Harding administration.
1t is less a republican defeat than q
defeat of a local administration that
had outraged Chicago sentiment"
Right at home the Chicago Daily
News independently explains the re-
suit as due to realization by the
voters of Judge Dever's knowledge
and grasp of municipal problems.
The mayor-elect faces not only a
great responsibility. but rare op-
most inspiring kind. After Chicago's
eight years of misrule. shameless
waste and unprecedented demoraliza-
tion, the new executive has 1t in his
power to redeem and rehabilitate
the city government from top to bot
tom by reverting. courageously and
unhesitatingly. to the rule of merit
and to the basic principles of honest.
efficient administration" Explaining
the causes SO far as they affected the
republican candidate, the Chicago
Post independent republican, feels
'the defeat of Mr.. Lueder Is at
tributable primarily to the discredit
which has befall the republican party
and to public disgust with its fac
tional leadership. Chicago has served
constituted. that only thorough
housecleaning will suffice to make it
again available as an instrument of
the public will. 1t is now judged and
condemned. The length Of its SEN
tence depends upon how quickly 1t
applies the lessons clearly taught in
the election figures This latter ar
gument likewise is stressed by the
st. Louis Globe Democrat Gndepend-
en). which suggests that IF Judge
Dever appreciates that the election
result was less a vote of confidence
in him then a vote of lack of conf
dence in Mayor Thompson he will en-
ter on the work Of executive in a
promising state Of mind. The ma
chine building of the last eight years
is a powerful object lesson on what
not to do in Chicago-on what not
to do in any city"
II there Is to be any national appli-
cation in the result, it should be
found in the contest for the seat of
the late Representative Mann. the
Springfield Union independently
thinks, because even with the big
won by a plurality of $4,000 votes.
and, in so far as the result can be
accepted as indicative. 1t appears to
show that the political pendulum is
swinging back to 'republicanism."
Another paper entertaining this view
is the Reading Tribune independent
republican,, which believes the
bearing of the Dever democratic VIC
tory on republican chances In the
larger campaign seems remote" Out
! side of the mere outcome, the In
dianapolis News feels there is en-
couragement for the country in the
fact that the people Of Chicago in
the mayoralty fight had choice be-
tween two good men. Perhaps the
fact co-operated with the rain in
keeping the vote down. The social
lists. 1t should be said. developed sur
prising strength" The municipal
ownership and progressive features
in the Dever platform have Impress
ed the Memphis News-Scimitar Gnde-
pendent). which believes 1t will at
tract attention" to his administration
everywhere; while the Chattanooga
Times (democratic) is one paper which
insists "the democrats have a right
to declare they won q straight and
Stand-up party fight