The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-03-03
UNITED STATES is
PASSING THROUGH A
CONSERVATIVE ERA
CONTRAST WITH PROGRESS
I'VE CYCLE" OF IS YEARS
AGO MOST STRIKING.
RUSSIAN UPSET RESPONSIBLE

Among SonT1Dutory causes. Fo-
litical Flavor of Things Has Been
Completely Changed.
! Politically speaking, things run in
tides in this country-probably in all
countries. We have long periods when
the trend of public affairs and political
opinion is all in one direction, and
then the tide turns and, apparently,
runs just as strongly in the other.
! A favorite illustration is the pen
dulum" theory, writes Frank B. Kent,
the Washington representative of the
Baltimore Sun. Politicians of long ex-
perience and reputed wisdom are fond
of pointing out that political reactions
are inevitable and that the pendulum
must swing back as far in one direc-
ton as it swung out in the other Of
course, that is not absolutely accu-
rate. The swing back certainly does
come, but it is never quite so far back
as it was out.
| Just now we seem to be due to a
swing back in what they call in
Washington a cycle of conservatism"
1t is certainly true that, to those
whose political memories go back
clearly, say IS years, the contrast is
striking. Then, the whole drift of the
country seemed Enthusiastically toward
what the conservatives called dan
gerous radicalism." 1t was the heyday
of the "progressives."
Now the once-slipping grip, on ev-
cry branch of government, OF those
contemporary referred to in former
days as "reactionaries" is tighter than
anyone here can remember. The polit-
ical favor of things has completely
changed We. are practically at the
other political pole 1t can be proved
in a hundred ways.
Popular Political Fashion.
A short time ago it was the pop
ular political fashion to be progress
sive" Men branded as Conservative"
ran before the people under a dread
full handicap.
The press was progressive" So was
the pulpit, and politicians We'd with
each other as to how, by indorsing or
suggesting new things, to seem more
so. 1t was the day when demagogues
howled about Big Business" giant
combination" and the money power
in Wall street" The government own
ership of railroads idea seemed grow
ing in popular favor, and the mere
suggestion Of consolidation was polit-
ically abhorent One change after the
other was made in the constitution,
and the conservatives were dragged
ihe1plessly along behind the direct cleo
ton OF senator's, prohibition and wo-
man suffrage amendments.
But. it is very different now. The
Swing back" has come. Things are
done today with but slight comment
that 10 years ago would have caused
political CONFUSION in various sec.
tions-and been hailed as ali outrage
Gus betrayal of trust by the very
middle western newspapers that today
accept them as natural and right.
Instead of trying to keep the rail-
, roads apart the pressure today is to
force them together. Instead OF de-
nouncing Big Business and passing
Legislation to prevent the merging of
industries these steps are regarded
generally as in the interests of the
public Instead of ratifying every con-
stitutional amendment proposed the
| CflllQ ldDOI 10 lNJ(NNSd, etii0
state after state shows signs of rest
iveness under the paternal hand of the
| federal government, and even resist
ance to being compelled to accept
governmental aid.
Conservatism Reflected in States.
The conservatism of congress and
the white house is reflected in the
states. The Kansas and Missouri leg
lislatures are said to be the most con-
servative in years. Instead OF badger
ing business the tendency is to let It
alone
1t is interesting, too, to note how
the great newspapers which used
fiamingly to espouse the progressive
! cause have become as conservative as
Mr.. Coolidge. who is undoubtedly the
most conservative president we have
had in long time.
Thoughtful men. who observe how
contented the country is with present
conditions in congress and the type OF
man in the white house, neither of
which it would have tolerated few
wears ago. are deeply interested in
searching for the reasons of Swing
back" OF so much greater strength
! TEldn usual. L lillAh biiets VI NCet ~
the back wash OF the war had some
thing to do with it. So, too, it is ar
gued, has the revolt against prohibi-
ton, and the rising sentiment for per
sonal liberty" freedom of action" and
less governmental interference"
Real Reason of Swing.
But the conviction is strong among
students of politics that neither is the
real reason for the mighty swing
back" to the conservative cycle.R The
real reason, they say, is Russia. For
the last 10 years Russia has been Eek
hibit A" Of the results Of unchecked
radicalism. 1t has furnished the .hor-
/ rible example" for America OF the I'LL
innate goal OF the progressive forces
and what happens when they reach it.
1t is held that it is the revelation in
Russia of what unrestrained radical
ism means. more than anything else,
that has SO tremendously strengthen
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