Evening star., 1924-11-09
The Cause of Tuesdays Vote.

Ever since Tuesday efforts have
been made to analyze the election re-
turns, and thereby determine the pri.
mary cause Of the Republican victory
and as a corolary the Democratic
defeat. There are many factors in
the equation, with a wide range Of
choice between them Some Demo.
cratic commentators are blaming the
La Toilette candidacy for having
divided the opposition to the Repub-
Hcan party, although when it was
launched it was hailed by them as
likely to divide the Republican vote
and thereby insure the election of the
Democratic nominees. Others go
further and lay the responsibility
upon La Toilette for having conduct
ed d campaign that forced many
Democrats to support Coolidge and
Dawes as the more conservative and
safer men, and particularly as those
more likely to gain a lead in the cleo
toral college Some say that La Fol
lette played into Republican hands
by leaving the West, where he had a
chance Of victory, and entering the
Eastern field, where he had none,
thus making it impossible for the
Democratic management to conduct a
conservative campaign.
AS The Star pointed out the other
day, the thirdp party candidacy did
not poll enough votes on election day
to constitute a balance of power or
to have affected the result had they
been swung to the Davis support. 1t
polled, in fact, very many less votes
than it was expected would be the
case. 1t may have had the effect. how
ever, Of consolidating the conserva-
tive sentiment and turning it toward
Coolidge. Doubtless many thousands
OF voters were Influenced in that di-
recuon by the possibility Of an cleo
toral deadlock, with it's potentiality
for confusion, delay and the ultimate
choice of Charles w. Bryan as Presi-
dent
There are some, indeed, who be-
lieve that the nomination of Gov.
Bryan as Mr.. Davis running mate
was in itself a determining factor for
Republican success, that the doom Of
the Democratic ticket was sealed with
his selection. Assuredly with him on
the ticket the Democratic manage
ment could not conduct an aggressive
anti-radicalism campaign. 1t was thus
handicapped from the start in the
matter of winning votes away from
La Toilette or from the Republicans.
Good crops, good prices and good
weather undoubtedly contributed
heavily to Republican success. For
weeks before the election the skies
were clear throughout the greater
part Of the country, day after day,
giving the farmers chance to har-
vest their corn and to finish up their
seasons work without anxiety and
without unusual cost. That stretch of
good weather meant votes for Cool
idge, votes by the tens of thousands
in the area of possible debate. The re-
turns showed those votes in the agri-
cultural States Of the West, where La
Toilette was expected to win a block
aiding number of electors.
A negative factor for the Repub-
lican victory was the complete failure
OF the oil scandal as an issue. The
public did not respond to the cry Of
corruption in Government and a de-
nand to turn the rascals out" All
efforts to fasten responsibility for the
shortcomings and faults of admins.
tration upon Mr.. Coolidge reacted in
his favor, for they only served to
bring out more clearly his personal
integrity, against which no question
could possibly be raised.
With the oil scandal weapon blunt
ed; with the League Of Nations issue
a doubtful if not an actually harmful
plea; with the conservative sentiment
focused by reason of the La Toilette
candidacy upon the President and his
ticket associate; with good times daily
the result was assured All efforts to
deliver votes in great groups to La
Toilette failed. Labor refused to be
handed over in body. The German
American citizenry refused to be led
into that camp and voted according
to it's judgment, and not from mis-
taken sentiment regarding attitudes
in 1914.1917.
A series of blunders on the one side,
a consistent, well managed campaign
on the other-such was the record.
An enormous vote was cast with a
majority for Coolidge and Dawes SO
great as to leave no doubt in any
mind that the people preferred them
over all others. To seek the exact
cause Of this preference is not difficult
after all. 1t lay in the confidence and
the common sense Of the people. The
election was a triumph for them, a
demonstration Of their capacity for
sound judgment and self-government.
Prosperity is too valuable an asset
to be trifled with. At the present time