The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-05
stable represented a cross sec
ton of the Democratic party.


ton of the Democratic party.
The ineuiring mind Of the
boy accepted that theory as a
matter of course but ne felt
somewhat grieved that a PLAY
mate. son OF one Of the livery
stable employees should be con
demned 10 be a life long Dem
ocrst. Il didn't seem right
or fair What made the issue
stll more difficult to under
stand vas the argument he had
beer hearing As he sat behind
the base burner munching an
apple
As nc got II. the chief argu-
ment in favor Of the Republican
candidate was that Garfield had
driven a mule towing a freight
boat in the Erie canal II seem
ed funny that driving a mule
hitched TO a canal boat should
qualify a person to be Re
publican and candidate for
president while a person work
ing IN livery stable with
horses which were much nicer
than mules. should be con-
demned forever to be a Demo-
crst. And that meant never
being president for the COM
msnder Of the c. A. r. the
Methodist minister. the town
editor and the boys father were
agreed that no Democrat ever
would be lit 10 be president.
The more the ten-year-old
mind tried to analyze the phil
osophy that association with
mules created ono political
status and the company Of
horses should create another,
the more confusing il became.
He finally decided that if driv-
ing canal boat mule was
prerequisite 10 become presi-
dent, he might take a try at it
himself. That would be a lot
more fun than going to school,
filling the wood box behind the
kitchen stove and washing dish
es. Some OF these times when
his father or mother laid on
too heavily with the old trunk
strap he would run away and
get a job driving a mule. When
he became president they'd be
sorry for having licked him.
AS the years passed other
elections came and went. To
the more matured mind many of
the issues associated with the i'm
portance Of electing a president
were as trivial as that Of 1850
when the issue seemed to be
association with an Eric canal
mule as a qualification for the
presidency. But it remained for
this year Of grace, 1910 to cap
the climax.
There is the spectacle of a
lifelong Democrat, catapulted
over the back fence into the
Republican party. going up
and down the land preaching
free America and at the
same time denying the right
OF the American people to
elect president for third
term If they so desire. For
triviality that compares with
the canal mule issue.
And much more confusing
than the complications of 1880
appeared to a ten-year-old mind
are some Of the associations of
the 1910 campaign. As a COM
mander of the American Legion
our old friend Steve Chadwick
demanded the deporta ton of
Harry Bridges. As a candidate
for United States senator steve
remains silent when the same
Harry Bridges offers his sup
port
John Lewis, leader Of one NJ
the dominant labor groups gets
INTO bed with Candidate Willkie
who has expressed violent dis
agreement with the Lewis phil
osophy Also in the same bed
are those violently opposed to
New Deal PHILOSOPHERS which
Candidate Willkie has endorsed.
And so on. Today, a few
hours before the polls open for
an important national election.
many Of the voters are as con-
tused as was the ten-year-old
boy in the Garfield campaign.
But a few hours later the is
sues will be settled at the Ameri-
can ballot box, and no matter
what the votes decide. the coun-
try will go on just the same.
And about three and a half years
hence We will be arguing over
other trivalities IN another presi-