Life — October 14, 1920 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

OCTOBER 14, 1920 Groxce B. Ricuanoson, Vice-President Lr Rov Mutter, Treasurer Geoxce b'Urassy, Secretary HO remem- bers a cam- paign in which so many prospective voters were so much in need of sympathy — par- ticularly Republi- can voters? A great many Republicans, anxious to do their duty at the polls, are perplexed this year as to what that duty is. Nom- inally the League of Nations is the lead- ing issue of the campaign, and these per- plexed Republican voters are in favor of the League. Mr. Taft continues to say it is the leading issue and continues to advocate it, but he continues also to per- sist in his intention of voting the Repub- lican ticket, and recommends his fellow partisans to do so. Governor Cox is for the League; Senator Harding is against it; but in this part of the country most of the Republicans intend to vote for Harding. They are not pleased with his attitude on the League, but they want a Republican administration and recognize the difficulties of their candidate's posi- tion. They appreciate the inexpediency of driving Johnson and Borah into open opposition to the Republican ticket by coming out for the League of Nations in any form. For the time being, Johnson and Borah have got them covered, and they have to stand hands-up, but they be- lieve that after election this country will somehow join the League. All that must be dreadfully embarrass- ing for the pro-League Republicans. One's heart bleeds for them. Why, oh, why, should the question of the League be tied up to the question whether the Democrats or the Republicans are to con- trol the next administration? It ought not to be a party issue at all. It cuts across both parties. Whenever this coun- “While there is Life there’s Hope” Published by LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY Cartes Dana Giason, President 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York London Offices, Rolls House, Breams Bldgs., London, E. C. try goes into the League, its position there will have to have much more behind it than the Democratic party. Whatever we do about the League, or as a member of it, will need a backing that is national. At this writing, Mr. Root has just got home, and it is hoped that he will say something or propose something that will make duty more plain and palatable to the pro-League Republican voter, but it is a difficult job, for there are Johnson and Borah, and even Mr. Root cannot spirit them away. What speculative persons now want to know is, how many pro-League Republi- cans, especially in the West, will finally express their feelings by voting for Cox. If enough of them do so, the augury Maine may be upset. since a large propor- tion of our friends are confident that the election was settled in Maine and that the Republicans have won, and since, for the moment, the bets average about four to one in favor of that view, it behooves us all, and especially all Democrats, to look upon the bright side and realize how much better it is that things should go the way they went in Maine. It is true that some stiff-necked ob- servers have misgivings, and some even say that the election will be settled in the last ten days of the campaign, but there are always such reluctant minds that de- cline to be convinced until the votes, and especially the women’s votes, have actu- ally been counted. Let us put them aside and consider how great a blessing it will be to have the Republicans recapture the government. VOL. 76, No. 1980 Epwaro S. Maatinx, E Tuomas L. Masson, Managing Editor F. De Sates Casey, Art Editor One great reason that has not had the attention it should have had, to hope for Republican success, is that the lead- ing Democratic officeholders have run the government as long as they can afford to, and that it is time that they had a chance to do something for their own pockets. Mr. Wilson, it is true, has had a reason- ably comfortable salary and could afford, perhaps, to hold his job, but he is not a candidate for re-election, Mr. McAdoo was crushed out of office months ago by overwork and the inade- quacy of his salary to pay his rent and grocer’s bills. He got to work for him- self, and people say that he is almost even with the world again, and that if he can keep out of office a year or two he may accumulate something. Mr. Baker's predicament is left to sur- He has made no complaints, but when he undertook, so much against his will, the duties of Secretary of War, he was at the end of a period of office- holding in Ohio, and was just starting in to make some money in the practice of He must be in as bad financial con- dition as a person of his character and ability could get. mise. law. Mr. Lane quit his job not long since, because he was worked out, and needed means of support besides. Dr. Houston had long practice on the pay of a college professor, and has ex- cellent health, and has been able to stay by the administration and to help keep the wheels of the government. turning, and might go on with a new administra- tion, but to Mr. Palmer private practice must begin to look attractive. They say Mr, Burleson is a rich man, and Mr. Daniels is probably an easy keeper, but only a small proportion of the voters are overanxious to keep gentlemen in office, even if they should be willing to stay. So if anyone tries to these comicbooks.