Milford chronicle., 1926-07-16


sue and apparently without dehnite
leadership. True, they are still de-
void of issues, but they are begin
ming to Lope that the situation in
the Middle West will rebound to
their advantage and they expect is
sues to develop when the time
comes.
It will not do, however, to Jump
at conclusions. The metropolitan
have been full Of head
lines recently about the revolt OF the
farmers. But just how much defec-
tion there really is, nobody knows.
It is to be remembered too, that con-
ditions change pretty fast sometimes
in the agricultural regions, and the
things which the professional friends
of the farmers are saying now may
seem hopelessly out of date within
a few months. You never can tell.
The chief difficulty Of the oppo-
sition party now, is that it has
nothing yet to offer by way OF sub
stitute, as an issue on which all 1ac-
tions of the party can unite. Ihe
leaders of the Democratic Party DO
not think alike on farm relief any
more than the leaders Of the Repub-
hcan Party do. True, there IS the
tariff. but even the tariff is no long
er as partisan an issue as it used TO
be. Protective tariff sentiment Is
growing in the Democratic South by
leans and bounds. And the sheep
growers, the fruit growers and the
beet growers of the West do not
want free trade anymore than the
New England manufacturer wants IT,
On the other hand there are certain
interests in the East usually ldenu-
fed with the Republican Party who
are not now so keen for protectlon
as formerly, so that the tariff lines
are shifting. And they are shifting
so rapidly that it is doubtful whether
the Democrats will gain any ground
if they put on a lower tariff cam
naign and the leaders know it. ]
The furry about corn prices, too'
will not take the minds OF the great
bulk of the voters off the achieve
ments of the national administration
since 1921. They remember no"
conditions were then and they know
how expenses have been cut ana
federal taxes reduced since then.
And the opposition will have to put
up a pretty strong case to convince
them that they have anything better
to offer as a substitute. Maybe they
can do it but it will not be easy.
In a speech recently Senator
Phipps, of Colorado said: There
can be no question that in 1921 there
were 100000 wage earners out OF
work, that agriculture and manu-
factures were languishing, for lack
of trade and that Liberty bonds were
selling at IS. Millions of dollars
worth of goods produced where labor
was cheaper and where the Amerl-
can standard of living did not pre-
vail, were coming to our shores TO
compete with our unprotected indus
try"
This is the picture of 1921 Repub-
lican orators will paint and they Will
compare it with present conditions
when they get into action. So IN
spite of any dissatisfaction there
may be in some of our agricultural
regions, the Democrats have no easy
task ahead.
Independence Day had more than
the usual significance this year. 1t
marked the sesqui-centennial OF the
signing of the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence, and in addition was the
hundredth anniversary of the pass
ing of two great American patriots,
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
These two famous men were far
apart in political thought, yet each
loved liberty and performed great
part in the American struggle for
freedom. 1t was Thomas Jefferson
who wrote the Declaration of lnde-
pendence, the immortal document
which gives the patriotic signlh-
canoe to the Fourth Of July. And
it was John Adams, who more than
any other man defended the declara-
ton and put it through the CONT
mental Congress.
Jefferson, patriot, politician and
statesman, was no orator. History
tells us that his voice was weak and
that he was uneasy when attempt
ing to talk in public. The task then
of defending the great document
fell on the doughty champion from
Massachusetts, John Adams. And
bo ,arsorroad tho fash we'll Adams