Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-01-07

ing day he believed that the Repub-
lican party lost control Of the gov
ernmen mt not because 1t advocated
the wrong policies, but because fats
took hand.
He foresaw the depression before
it came, and after it came he fore
saw what effect it would have on the
fortunes of the two major parties in
the United States.
Only few months after the fl
nancial crash in 1929, in friendly
conversation with this correspond
ent, Senator Fess predicted that the
country was in for a long depres-
sion; that President Hoover would
be one-term president; that the
Democrats would come into power
and probably remain in for a long
time
LUCK he said, shas been with
the Republican party for forty years.
1t has been in power during the up
swing of each economic cycle and,
until the present time, it has always
been lucky enough to get kicked out
just before depression. Conse-
quently it has come to be known as
the only party that is fit to rule
and it has made the most of that
reputation.
"But now luck has turned against
it. The country was getting tired of
Republican rule before the 1928
election Under ordinary conditions
it would have lost control. But,
partly due to the fact that Hoover's
great abilities were generally recog-
nized and he was made out to be
something of superman, and partly
because Smith was Catholic, the
Republicans retained control.
"Now they are in power at the be-
ginning of major depression. This
pressions the country has ever ex-
for it and it is as certain as the fact
that history repeats itself that he
will be a one-term president.
''The Democrats will come into
power and, in all probability, will
be in power when the country pulls
itself out of the depression. And
whoever the Democratic president
happens to be he will get the credit
for it and will be reelected. And,
if the Democrats are lucky enough
to get kicked out Of power just be-
fore the next major depression, they
will in all probability become known
as the party of prosperity and the
only party that is fit to rule and,
if they behave themselves and don't
try anything too radical. there is no
reason why they should not live on
this reputation and be the major
party for the next forty years
Senator Fess, being a practical
student of history and political
realist as well as a scholar and
theorist. saw the handwriting on the
wall He knew, before his own cam
paign for reelection in 1884 that he
would be defeated. He told this corr
respondent the preceding summer,
even before the campaign had start
ed, that he knew he didn't have d
chance, but that he was going to
make the race anyhow because 81
want to keep my own record
straight
All this does not mean that SEN
ator Fess was not a firm believer in
the policies of the Republican party
He did not cast his lot with the Re-
publican party merely because it was
the dominant party in his time and
therefore the best vehicle to ride
into office. He believed sincerely
that the principles of his party were
better principles than those of the
Democratic party But he was real
ist enough to know that in the rise
and fall of parties, as we'll as of en-
pires, chance played an important
part.