Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-18
POLITICAL REACTION
Of WEST ANALYZED
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal-Co

M1DN IS AM EhlCA, oCl. 10
There is something hopeful, some
thing buoyant about the spirit or
the west today which finds its re-
flex in politics, of course, but which
makes the wayfarer feel the throb
of ever-groWing confidence that the
dark days of depression have passed,
and that the dawn of u prosperous
tomorrow has come.
1t is not altogether due to the rise
in the prices of agricultural products
or the favorable crops. 1t is due
to some extent to a feeling of sta.
bility, a feeling that the recon
struction of Americas economic life
following the war has come a
steady, upward and assured pace.
There is an air of progress, of things
moving, of unrest dispelled and OF
great opportunity.
The man would be blind who saw
no discomfort, no symptoms of po-
litical upheaval for the years to
to come, if the West is left to hear
it's own protesting voice, as the cry
is raised for a lower tariff, or a re-
duction in freight rates.
President Coolidge has achieved a
considerable strength; on the farms
as we'll as in the cities of the west,
but it would be a mistake for his
supporters and advisors to interpret
the votes that will be cast in his
direction as due entirely to this EN-.
thuslasm of approval. It is in a
sense a passive acquiescence; be-
lief in things as they are; in the
maintenance of status quo; yet with
it there is a hope for the future.
Persons, Not Issues
The west is changing. Co-opera-
tive marketing, diversified farming
improved methods of production.
better credit facilities and motor
transportation all have played their
parts.
The political parties have been
torn by local strife, and wounded in
the everlasting controversy between
conservatives and radicals.
Persons mean more than issues as
a factor in the balloting.
President Coolidge's strength with
the voters of the west is a curious
thing. 1t is the same west which
threw it's hat into the air for the rip
roaring irrepressible r. r. of 1912
Today the west silently, but just as
effectively, utters it's favor for the
rugged, honest, simple, unassuming
plain man from the New England
hills.
John w. Davis speeches are com
mended, and his record is appIauded.
but the west regards him as Of the
same school of thought as President
Coolidge on most of the important
issues of the day.
The emphasis placed on La Fol.
lette at the left side of the political
scene, and Coolidge on the right, has
meant a shunting of Davis to one
side
Western sentiment, which clam
ored for McAdoo, has not accepted
Davis AS a substitute. This is not
the fault of Davis. 1t is because his
record was not that of McAdoo, who
stood for high wages on the rail
roads, record of achievement in Of
flee with respect to agricultural
credits, and, generally speaking, a
liberal radical He would have car
ried many western states, but not
all of them, SO the favorable eco
nomic condition helps the party. in
power.
Desires of West
Had McAdoo been nominated, Sen
ator La Toilette probably would
ave thought twice about an indie
pendent campaign, as the railroad
brotherhoods would have supported
McAdoo financially and otherwise.
His name was symbol Of what
they stood for. AS director general
OF railroads he was responsible for
the very things which the railway
employees today are striving to pre-
serve or insure, with respect to con-
Gressional action IS they demon
strate their political power in the
La Toilette vote.
The La Toilette movement calls
itself progressive, and argues that
it is the inheriter of the Bull Moose
spirit Of 1912. It has many pro
gressives in it's ranks.
There is no doubt about that. But
the writer found the La Toilette
in the west nothing more
nor less than protest movement. 1t
is not to be taken any less seriously
for that reason, for its capacity to
affect the political problems of the
next few years cannot be under
estimated.
La Toilette Boom Analysis
Analysing the component parts of
the La Toilette campaign, one finds
it consists of those farmers who
have had i'll fortune and have not
been able to recuperate through one
year of good crops, railway employees
who are fighting against the railway
executives, and those who would
tear down what advantages labor
achieved during the war, and. final
ly, Germans who see in La Toilette
an opportunity to express their graf
itude to one who voted and argued
against the war when the whole
country was entering the fight with
imprisoned energy.
No program of social welfare, no
specific proposals of concrete value,
as a solution of the many complex
questions of the day, only an appeal
to the man who inagines himself
the under-dog, the man who has lost
confidence in the personnel of gov
eminent for one reason or another,
and, lastly, the man with a griev-
ance-this is the La Toilette move
ment as it has been presented to the
west.
1t may have constructive pur-
poses; it may have plans to improve
the conditions of the poor man, but
only those who are in a receptive