Life — September 29, 1910 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

vou. SEPTEMBER 2. 19 Published by PUBLISHING COMPANY LA MITCHELL, Pree, AL MILLER, Sey and Treas, 1 West Thirty-first Street, New York. HE more it looks like a return of Demo- crats to pow- er, the better it seems to have such Democrats as Woodrow Wilson come into active political life. With Dr. Wilson Governor in New Jersey, Judge Baldwin in Connecticut, Judge Har- mon in Ohio and some respected and responsible Democrat Governor in New York, the party should proceed on its way to the Presidential election of 1912 with a great renewal of confi- dence. All these Democratic Govern- ors seem likely to be elected this fall, and if they are, will help to make up the benchful of candidates out of which the Democrats will choose their nominee and out of which their man, if he wins, will choose the leading officers of his administration. How very long it is since the Democrats have been a party to any such situation in American political life! What sent Maine Democratic? Disgust! Disgust with the tariff views and conduct of her representatives in Con- gress, who had ceased to represent her; disgust also with Maine liquor laws; disgust with them unenforced and still greater disgust with them as lately enforced. Maine went Democratic be- cause she was out of sympathy with Republicanism as lately exhibited and wanted achange. That is the ominous element in her example. Her foolish liquor laws are a local evil, but the sense that it is time to swat the Re- publican party between the eyes is not local at all. In November we shall “LPR E ° sec the same subtle sentiment expressed in all corners of the country. Take it here in the State of New York. The woods—including the cities, towns and rural districts—are full of Republicans with an anxious interest in the action of the Democratic State convention. These Republicans want a sound and responsible Democratic candidate to vote for for Governor. In their own party they despise the Barnes element and distrust the Roosevelt reform. They have reached for the birch and propose to apply it good and hearty. F course, Colonel Roosevelt has long scen that the jig is up with the Republican party as it was when it first conducted him to the White House. He got his election, when he ran against Parker, on the strength of his own popularity and because of the extreme feebleness of the opposition. His popularity and the growing fear of him combined to elect Taft, and that excellent man and faithful public servant has wallowed manfully in the bog into which he was dropped. Let us be thankful that in these times of change and reaction we have President Taft in the White House. Perhaps he is a misplaced man. Perhaps Hughes might have managed better with a di- vided party for which the bell had rung to split. But that is all conjecture. Under Taft the split has come and there is small prospect that he will cure it, but while he is President many very important things will be done well, and the Government will be ad- ministered according to law. Meanwhile Colonel Roosevelt is try- ing to organize a remnant of the Re- publicans into a party that can com- pete with the Democrats in 1912. Without a doubt it is the likeliest rem- nant in the old party, the only one for which there is hope; but it is an interesting question whether, in the long run, it will be more helped than hindered by the Roosevelt leadership. During the last two months there has been a great increase in the number of voters hereabouts who are indisposed to hitch their wagons to the Roosevelt star, It looks to them too much like acomet. The Colonel could probably carry Kansas at the next election for any office, but it is very doubtful if he could carry New York. He can always draw a crowd wherever he appears, but it is fair matter for speculation whether in the years that are now at hand his province will be to strengthen the party he works with or the party that he opposes. If it were certain that he would not run again for Presi- dent the fear of him would be le: ened and his influence possibly in- creased. But that is not certain and cannot be made so. He has said he wouldn't, but there are many persons whom signs and wonders would not convince that he will always feel bound by what he said. Possibly and not improbably it is the Colonel's destiny to spend the bal- ance of his political days in opposition to the Government. That is a station with considerable possibilities of use- fulness. Bryan filled it in a fashion that kept the Republican party in power long after it should have been turned out. It may be that the Colo- nel will do something similar and re- ciprocate in behalf of the Democrats. HERE has been very little stirring news this last month but politics. Solicitor-General Bowers’ death was tragical, so fine a mind went out, and so great a promise of important service was frustrated. It is to regret the previousness of the Democratic minority of the Ballin- ger investigating committee in giving out their report, but at least they are not afraid to report. It is amusing that the papers are so much shocked at President Taft's an- nouncement that the Insurgents have demonstrated that they too are Repub- licans and can have their share of the political patronage hereafter. The President, being a lawyer, feels that claimants who perfect their title should have the property. Why not? We understand that the Boston so- ciety for the suppression of cock-fight- ing in Cuba has goi its fall campaign under way. comicbooks.com