Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-05-23
EDITORIAL COMMENTS FROM
LA FOLLETTE'S MAGAZINE

an analysis of the returns does not
bear out such an Interpretation. In
deed, it can be said that whenever the
people have been given an opportun-
ity to choose between progressive
and reactionary program, they have
voted for the former.
In Wisconsin, % of the 20 delegates
elected to the Republican convention
were committed to a platform of pro-
gressive principles.
In Nebraska, Senator Norris was
renOminated by vote of more than
three to one against an opponent who
had the support of the federal ma
chine Of his party and who conducted
an expensive and active campaign
Without spending a penny or making
speech in his behalf, the chairman
Of the Progressive group in Congress
was given the greatest majority of
his career.
The results in the Illinois primary
were equally encouraging. The Pro-
gressive candidate for United States
senator was Newton Jenkins, a young
man in his thirties who had never held
public office and who despite his
creditable services to the people of the
State was not widely known. Jenkins
had neither financial nor machine
support, but nevertheless received in
the neighborhood of 10000 votes and
carried a number of counties in which
his campaign had been well organized
by local backers.- Illinois renominated
three Republican Congressman who
were members of the Progressive
group and nominated a fourth candi-
date making his first campaign who
is pledged to support Progressive
measures.
These are some of the results
which are lost sight of by those who
consult only the surface manifesto
tions of sentiment for various Repub-
lican and Democratic candidates for
party nominations. They indicate
that the people are voting as intelli-
gently as they did in 1922 and that
the easy confidence of reactionary
politicians has no basis whatsoever.
The United States Senate has
adopted the Norris resolution provid-
ing for submission to the states of a
constitutional amendment which re-
quires that Congress shall assemble
on the first Monday in January fol-
lowing its election, instead of assem-
bling as at present, nearly a year
later, unless an extra session is call
ed. The amendment also provides
} that the President and Vice-President
shall be in augurated in January in
: stead of March. Practically the same
: resolution was adopted by the Senate
} at a previous session but was allow
I ed to die in the House 1t should re-
ceive the approval of the present
House before adjournment.
= The effect of the amendment will
: be to make a ''lame duck" Congress
; impossible in future. The vicious
practice of permitting Congress to
: sit long after it has been repudiated
. is fraught with danger to the repre-
sentative system. In 1922 it came
within few votes of resulting in the
passage of the Ship Subsidy bill. At
that time it was shown that the bill
passed the House only by virtue Of
the support of large number of dis
credited Congressman, many Of whom
had been defeated largely because of
their advocacy of the Ship Subsidy
bill. The Norris amendment marks
another step forward toward bringing
the government back to the people.
AS a penalty for questioning the
policies pursued by Andrew w. Mel
Ion as Secretary of the Treasury, Sen
ator James Couzens of Michigan has
been read out Of joint with the party
and will be opposed for denomination
and reelection~in Michigan by the
state and federal party machine. Sen
ator Reed of Pennsylvania recently
nominated Edwin DENLY, who signed
the Teapot Dome lease, as Senator
Couzens' successor. "Never had any
inclination to quit in a fight" Sena-
tor Couzens declared recently in an
interview given from his sick-bed
There seems to be a tendency among
the Old Guard leaders to read out of
the party all of the so-called Progress
sive Republicans, and | presume I am
included in the list. I know what the
. real test applied by the Old Guard
leaders is, although they dare not
state it to the public. What they in
I sist on is that I be the same kird of
Senator as Watson of Indiana, Reed
I of Pennsylvania, or Wadsworth of
New York. The real test-the onlv
way it can possibly be defined-is
that Republican Senator must al
I ways vote on the side of the vested
interests. The first test of a Repub-
I lican, as the Old Guard see it, is that
one must never question the policy Of
! the railroads. You mustn't even so
much as look at the tax return of any
rich man or corporation. You must
never vote. under any circumstances,
in a way that might reduce large COR
porate profits. That is the real test
they apply and every thinking man
knows it. l admit am not that kind
of Republican. bnt | don't believe the
majority of the Republicans of Mich
iean are that kind of Republicans,
either.