The Bismarck tribune., 1930-11-05
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with returns from all parts of the nation indicating
sueennp victory for the Democrats in state ana Gull
gressional elections Tuesday, political observers anu m
electorate may we'll pause to consider the lacVoiS WIN"
caused this startling from the results Oh 'e
presidential ballot IN 1928
After the high tide comes the ebb ana IL was olAS
Natural that there should be recession from the enor
NOUS Hoover plurality which gave the Republcahs all
almost unwiedy majority in the lower mouse ol ool'
Dress and materially strengthened its position IN the
senate.
put this was no normal ebb in the fortunes OF
oitical party It was recession such as the nation mas
not seen since 1910 when the ills OF the TAFT aonSua
tion eliminated in Democratic victory IN the py-eiec
tions following the enactment OF the Pavne-nlor'c''
tariff bill
Tho smoot tl1awey tariff measure recently enacted,
doubtless played its part in the result OF TINS eec1lo
Whether it is good or bad is beside the point II un
doubtedy gave the anti-Hoover forces real talking
point and they made the most OF it.
pt even tariff bill could not reasonably be crediteo
with the political turmoil which is evident TO anyone
viewing the results of this election we must look
elsewhere for the underlying cause of what Is acknow
edged to be singing defeat
The obvious cause course is change in the Sentl-
ment of the people, When find that cause we nave
earthed the for the upsurgng of the forces Of
Democracy this year.
No political cairvoyance needed to find that cause
in the economic condition which beseging the coun-
try This coupled with the Republican propaganda III
the 1928 campagn-uch too recent to be torgotten SO
the primary for the worst political back
lash in generation.
In a manner of speaking the election Tuesday saw
no,tica chickens come home roost And it would seem
TIT they had multiplied somewhat while they were
away.
Although Mr. Hoover-and it is to his credit-clc not
SO express himself the Republican effort two years ago
was directed toward convincing the people tina: only
G. O victory needed to insure good times acd pros
pcrity for everyone In effect Republican leaders as
s,,red the voters that ballot for Mr. Hoover was a
method o insrng continued prosperity and good times
They were riding high tide of the Coolidge era and
the manner in which the nation believed them was
expressed in the result To this was added tn: Demo-
cratic detection prohibition and other issues and
the election stampede such as the nattor never
before had witnessed
But the propagandstS did their work too well in 1928
They implanted the idea firmly in the public mind
that 1t was not forgotten soon enough for them TO
escape the effects in the current campaign.
They made some effort to debunk their Arguments
of two years previous but they dared not 60 too far
for fear they would make themselves ridiculous. The
experience two years had led many voters to believe
that they had been duped and this belief reflected
in the way they marked their ballots Tuesday.
What this election will mean In the political history
of the nation can estimate now. Its effect on
business economic social and political conditions will
be watched with interest and everyone will hope now
that the election over that the outcome for the
best.
One thing the result may confidently be expected t
do and that is to make politicians careful Of ths
lind of bunk they hand the public in the future.
The which govern the municipality, state ant
nation are important but not much Othe
factors In the past politicians have promised every
hing it was possible for political party to give
some things which can only from a much highe
power. They ha'- given the impression that the
rr of citizens ing had everything to do with tin
individuals we'll being.
The answer to this claim has long been obvious tt
many persons and this year it more obvious thai
ever before. The in which folks marked thei
ballots demonstrates that.
This upset should have wholesome effect tlos
who sit in places of political trust and power IL,
state as well as in the nation.
It should serve notice to everyone tina: p!omis
must be matched by performance; that politics is
just game to be played the participant wills
without any recognizable rules. hut serious susines
sich must operate to the peoples welfare if it is
be popular
The people of U~:--l States have lad qui.
enough persfage served to them during political
paigns The election Tuesday indicates that they no
are demanding performance.