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desiro to do so, but they may prefer to wait and
see what the democrats are going to do, for the
future of the new party as a separate organiza
tion must depend very largely on the manner in
which the democratic party meets the responsi
bilities of its new position.
As for Mr. Roosevelt himself, all depends upon
the- attitude he now takes toward the problems
which confront us. If ho still aspires to a third
term, he will prove a dead weight to the new
organization rather than an inspiration. In so
far as human calculation is possible, the third
term idea seems to have received its quietus,
and tho chances are that before the next elec
tion the states will be ratifying an amendment to
the constitution limiting the president -to a
single term. If Mr. Roosevelt lays aside his
ambition and determines to devote himself to
tho unselfish propagation of progressive ideas,
he will soon recover what he has lost In public
esteem and make himself a moral force in the
nation. A man's moral force depends very
largely upon the unselfishness of his efforts, and
this rule applies to Mr. Roosevelt as well as to
others.
The ex-president is a man of great ability and
wonderful ener-y; he has an enthusiastic fol
lowing many of his supporters being almost
idolatrous in their attachment. If he will give
them a chance to believe that he is working for
the public, their admiration will 'know no
bounds. Time will show whether Mr. Rocfsevelt
is willing to enlist under the baliner of another
and fight in the ranks, or whether he will insist
on carrying the standard himself.
The democratic party has won a great victory
not greater than was claimed, but greater
than most of tho democrats expected for claims
usually outrun expectations. The triumph is
complete and the responsibility is commensu
rate with it. It is too early yet to analyze the
returns and determine just what causes have
been most potential in contributing to the
results.
It is too early even to compare with accuracy
the real strength of the parties. We ldo not
khqw yet whether thg democratic' party has
made a. material gain 'in the number of ' it's
voters, or whether its success is due entirely to
the division in the republican party." If the
complete returns show a large gain in the demo
cratic vote it will furnish encouragement to
believe that the party has made a permanent ad
vance. If, however, the victory must be credited
wholly to a division in the republican party, the
democratic party will have even more reason
to bo on its good behavior, for a failure to rise
to the requirements of the occasion will not
only disappoint the democrats but will reunite
the republicans.
Governor Wilson showed remarkatie wisdom
and discretion in dealing with the problems that
arose during the campaign; he has more than
fulfilled the expectations of those who favored
his nomination. His progressiveness has been
more and more emphasized as he has taken up
the questions with which he has had to deal,
and he will enter the office with the confidence
not only of his own party but of the opposition
as well.
There is no disguising the fact, however, that
while the great body of the democratic party is
progressive earnestly and actively progressive
there is a reactionary element which has more
influence than its numbers justify. This ele
ment, of course, will seek to retard progress,
but it will be opposed by the rank and file of
the party and by the progressive leaders. The
very fact that the new party is now second in
numbers and "enthusiasm will in itself strengthen
the progressives in the democratic party for the
fight before them.
The party's hope for the1 future depends upon
its fidelity to the progressive cause. Any turn
ing back would be fatal. "Expediency, there
fore, will join hands with principle in compell
ing the party to advance to the fulfillment of
its pledges.
Under the leadership of a man like Governor
Wilson, who has demonstrated not only capa
city but courage and conscience also, there is
every reason to believe that the democratic party
will so discharge its duty to the public as to
lay the foundation for permanent ascendency' in
the nation. Governor Wilson has shown that
he appreciates the fact that his administra
tion will mark an epoch an epoch that can be
made glorious by the vindication of the. party's
claim to the confidence of the public
"HOW FATHER' VOTED"
,
.
r.
In another column of this issue will be found
an article entitled "How father voted," and writ
ten by Mr. J. G. Alden.of Aurora, Neb: Mr.
Alden explains that this little story is written
as an appreciation of his father. Its publica
tion will certainly be of service to popular gov
ernment, for it impresses upon the reader in
a simple and beautiful way the sacredness of the
ballot. Read Mr. Alden's little story and then
ask your neighbor to read it. It would be well,
indeed, if every American citizen cultivated the
simple courage required, in this day on the part
of the man who w.ould brave the smiles of his
fellows by standing uncovered in casting his
vote for president of the United States. Indeed,
the ballot is sacred all along the line and the
vote cast for road overseer is entitled to the
same patriotic respect that should be shown for
other offices higher on the salary rolL.
THANKSGIVING DAY
President Taft has designated Thursday, Nov.
28 as Thanksgiving day for 1912. On the
Fourth of July the eagle seems a little larger
than it does on any other day, and its scream
may grate more harshly on the foreign ear than
it does at any other time. But on this day we
cultivate reverence and express our apprecia
tion of those blessings that have come to our
country without the thought or aid of Ameri
cans. Wo have reason to look with some de
gree of pride upon the achievement of the
United States; we contemplate the present with,
satisfaction, and look to the future with hope;
and yet on this occasion we may well remember
that we are but building upon the foundations
that have been laid for us. 'We did not create
the fertile soil that is the basis of our agricul
tural greatness; the streams that drain and feed
our valleys were not channelled by human
hands. We did not fashion the climate that
gives us the white cotton belt of the south,
the yellow wheat belt of the north, and the
qentral corn belt that joins" the two and over
laps them both. We do not gather up the mois
ture and fix the date of the early and later
rains; we did not hide away in the mountains
the gold and the silver; we did not store in the
earth the deposits of copper and zinc; we did
not create the measures of coal and the beds
of Jron.. .A11 these natural resources, which we
have but, commenced' to develop, are tho gift
of Him before whom we bow "in ''gratitude on
this Thanksgiving day of 1912. '
CHAMP CLARK
Representative Henry of Texas announces that
ho will not be a candidate for speakor but that in
his opinion the honor should go by common con
sent to Champ Clark. Mr. Henry says, "It is not
my intention to be a candidate for speaker of
the house. Requests from many parts of the
country urging me to run have come to me,
however, and it seems appropriate Lhat I should
make a public statement acknowledging my
personal opinion. Governor Wilson and his
associates can not afford to begin his adminis
tration with a factional contest against the
present speaker."
Mr. Henry is one of America's great demo
crats. He is a man who works not for public
honor, but in the hope of rendering real service
to the people. To such a man it is no sacrifice
to put aside ambition. But while doclining to
be a candidate himself Mr Henry expresses the
sentiment of democrats generally when he
speaks for the re-election of Champ Clark.
Champ Clark has a high place in the democratic
party regardless of differences in the past, and
his unanimous re-election to the office of speaker
will be met with applause from democrats of
every section of the union.
"SO NEARLY RIGHT"
In an editorial criticising Mr. Bryan, the New
York' Sun says: -For the first time since 189
that is to say for almost twenty years, the un
divided responsibility for legislation and ad
ministration will, rest upon the party which
stood so nearly right with Grover Cleveland
and went so frightfully wrong with Bryan in
tho disastrous adventure of 189C."
It is interesting to read in the Sun that the
democratic party under Grover Cleveland "stood
so nearly right." It was the New York Sun that
gave to Grover Cleveland the titlo "Stuffed
Prophet," and if brilliant newspaper paragraphs
could make men unhappy then tho life of Mr
Cleveland was made miserable by the flines of
the New York Sun. It was in those days that
the Sun, playing upon Mr. Cleveland's own
words, charged that the democratic party undor
;the -Stuffed Prophet," as it called the president
of our country, was in a state -of "innbeuous
desuetude." That party condition is quite dif
ferent from "stood so nearly right with Grover
' VOLUME 12, NUMBER $
r
HIS GREATEST EFFORT
Uncle Joe Cannon told the people of Danvilla
111., a few days ago, how it feels for a K "
republican leader to be defeated "Sinn 2
was a pup" Uncle Joe Cannon has remlSS
the Danville district in the lower ho use t
number of his neighbors called on him a tjt
days ago and he is credited with sayine-
"I don't know as there is much for me to qflv
The voters of the district have spoken n
abide by the result, but when I think V?!1
of those XXXXXXX it makes me ho funl fZ
collar It isn't so much that they chose S vote
against me as the OOOOOOO 7????9 zvvv l
makes me mad Why, It is not' more' tha a
month ago that I met . "'?, h
assured me that he was for me. Tuesday morn.
ing be couldn't wait to get to the polls to slaTh
me. But what can you expect of a ZZZZ "
like he is?"
"Three cheers for 'Uncle Joe!" yelled i m
in the back of thecrowd. The Cheers were
given with a will. w
,'If y ?,?d bee.n Yillins to 8tand for the recall
and all the rest of the patent medicine policies
I would have been elected," he went on "i
fnTLLV3 g0,fc t0, mUCh horse sense t0 stand
for such a lot of 2zzzz
, and I don't give a ZZZZ
who knows it. Progressives? Bah! I'd cut
my right arm off before I'd vote for anv such
- ZZZZ as that.
And now, my friends, I want to thank you
again for your kindness. You know me. We've
been neighbors for 50 or 60 years, and you
know that there isn't a
A&Ati here in Wnqlilno-fnn nr. nn i
...uOWu wi uuj piiau
else that can point a
ZZZZ finger at
me. Ive always believed in plain talk. I've
no sympathy with the man who 'aides behind
a lot of fancy phrases. My successor has my
best wishes, and I hope he Eteers clear of the
T7. ZZZZ . that slipped
it to me. To my many friends throughout the
country I am extremely grateful. As for the
others, anything they say doesn't bother me a
. V. 7T7 vii ,, ......
ZZZ
bit." New York World.
ELECTORAL VOTE OP 1012
WILSON
Alabama 12
Arizona 3
Arkansas 9
Colorado 6
Connecticut 7
Delaware 3
Florida 6
Georgia 14
Idaho 4
Illinois" 29
Indiana 15
Iowa 13
Kansas 10
Kentucky 13
Louisiana 10
Maryland 8
Maine 6
Massachusetts : .... 1 8
Mississippi 10
Missouri 18
1 1 ' '
Montana 4
Nabraska 8
Nevada 3
New Hampshire ... 4
New Jersey 14
New Mexico 3
New York 45
North Carolina ...12
North Dakota 5
Ohio 24
Oklahoma 10
Oregon 5
Rhode Island 5
South Carolina .... 9
Tennessee 12
Texas 20
Virginia 12
Wefat Virginia 8
Wisconsin 13
Wyoming 3
Total states 40; votes, 433.
ROOSEVELT
Michigan 15 Washington 7
Minnesota 12 South Dakota 5
Pennsylvania 38 California I3
Total states, Q; votes, 90.
TAFT
4 Vermont
Total states, 2; votes, 8.
Utah
IOWA GETTING INTO LINE
A Sioux City, la., dispatch says: Lieu
tenant Governor-elect W. L. Harding gave out
a forecast of the leading measures which lie pre
dicted will be introduced In the thirty-fifth
general assembly of Iowa, which will convene
January 13, 1913. The list Includes:
The Oregon plan of electing United States
senators.
A presidential primary law.
Improvement of rural highways.
Tax reforms.
The lieutenant governor-elect declared Sena
tor Kenyon is urging a law providing for the
Oregon plan, and said he expected to see it be
come a law.
Good for Iowa. She was somewhat slow in
planting herself upon good democratic ground
but her footing will he secure when she pro
vides for the popular election of senators at tho
presidential primaries.
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