The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in-corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, 1921. THE AMERICAN VERDICT.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1924, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in--corporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, 1921. THE AMERICAN VERDICT.

I he re-election of Mr Coolidgo to the presidency of the United States was

forecasted in the eleventh hour cablegrams chronicling the closing scenes of the great electoral contest which upsets America once every four voars.

President Coolidgo is a Republican, or if classed in a British political status, would be regarded as a Conservative. His chief opponent Mr Davies was a Democrat or Lilieral, while the third contestant was an Independent or Farmers’ candidate with pro-Labor leaning. Mr La Foletto who appeared late on the electoral horizon, did remarkably well in the contest. He upset calculations for a time, and the result promised to be in serious doubt for a period, T)je b?nf of the parties

in the I’uited States politically, do not follow the British at all closely. There is a dilfercnt atnio-pherc prevailing, and though the chief parties may have stalled oil as Conservatives and Liberals, tile trend of legislation, and the needs of Government and administration, have carried the parties far from the accepted lines of thought governing the two parties in the l English political arena. The Democrats did the I'nitcd States great political services. In the days of the civil war, when the hour struck, that most remarkable man and unique lender Abraham Lincoln appeared on the scene of action, and the inlliiciicc of his day and generation is to he felt all over America to this day. So with regard to the .tariff issue, the Demo: rats have favored a strong leaning to the free trade principles of British Liberal traditions. On the other hand the party now returned to a Ircsli lease of power has been advocating pioteetion and praetiiing it as opportunity permitted. With the progress of the settlement of the vast country the original missions of the parties have been gradually fulfilled, with the Jesuit that they have been drawing (loser together and there lias been less cause for diU'ei'enees between them. In both parties there lias been. liovever. a radical eleli'ent. and it is pointed out that, in the nominee for the vice-presidency, the two main parties put forward men of radical or more advanced opinions than the piesidenl ial candidates, bailor naturally is a pov.er of importance in so vast an industrial country as the l nited Slates. Strange to say the two principal parties did not court this brunch of the nation with special favors. The Republicans could not lie called friendly, and the Democrats in times past incurred the animosity of the unions. It was in .such circtimstanee.s no doulit that l.alior as organised ‘went to the .support of the third party, and there is the indication why I.a Rolette became so formidable an opponent to the contestants. While ostensibly representing the farmers, l.a Rolette made his appeal to Labor and lie openly captured the support of the leader. Mr (loinpcrs. As to the outcome of the election, it will mean that the I'nited States will continue to pursue the policy of the past. Air t’oolidge is not a magnetic lender, hut ho is safe. Perhaps he might he described as slow luit sure. He has an able assistant in the Vice-President, Mr Dawes, the able financier who grappled with the German money situation. America is disposed to stand apart not exactly isolated, hut tin interested onlooker, waiting an opportunity for interested action. Air C’oolidgo. is proving well qualified to play the opart of leader in sueli circumstances, which fact makes it not surprising that lie is again lutiirned to power for a further term.