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Editorial
September 3, 1918
The Dawson News
Dawson, Terrell County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Editorial discusses the president's intervention in Democratic primaries as emblematic of broader federal centralization eroding state rights, citing examples like national prohibition and woman suffrage, which contradict the Jeffersonian Democratic tradition. References the New York World's stance against such invasions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
STATE RIGHTS AGAIN.
Referring to the president's intervention in democratic primaries the New York World says "It is a policy in which success is its own vindication and failure its own condemnation."
From the standpoint of one interested primarily in party or factional success that is true. But the president's very active policy of intervention in state contests-an intervention so much more active than that of other presidents that he himself feels obliged to step delicately-has a much greater significance than that. It raises once more the familiar question as to how far America will go in centralizing its authority and obliterating state lines.
National prohibition, national woman suffrage, child labor laws, federal railroad regulation-these and a dozen other things are what the question has focused on. The drift for years has been toward economic and social nationalization, and there was even before the war a very perceptible political drift that way. This tendency has heretofore been anathema to the Jeffersonian tradition of the democratic party.
Such important publications as the New York World are still tooth and nail against invasion of state rights in the matter of prohibition, suffrage and so on.
The state's right to run its own politics has been questioned now, and not only questioned but set aside.
So much is said merely on the general proposition.
Referring to the president's intervention in democratic primaries the New York World says "It is a policy in which success is its own vindication and failure its own condemnation."
From the standpoint of one interested primarily in party or factional success that is true. But the president's very active policy of intervention in state contests-an intervention so much more active than that of other presidents that he himself feels obliged to step delicately-has a much greater significance than that. It raises once more the familiar question as to how far America will go in centralizing its authority and obliterating state lines.
National prohibition, national woman suffrage, child labor laws, federal railroad regulation-these and a dozen other things are what the question has focused on. The drift for years has been toward economic and social nationalization, and there was even before the war a very perceptible political drift that way. This tendency has heretofore been anathema to the Jeffersonian tradition of the democratic party.
Such important publications as the New York World are still tooth and nail against invasion of state rights in the matter of prohibition, suffrage and so on.
The state's right to run its own politics has been questioned now, and not only questioned but set aside.
So much is said merely on the general proposition.
What sub-type of article is it?
Constitutional
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
State Rights
Presidential Intervention
Centralization
Federal Authority
Democratic Primaries
Jeffersonian Tradition
National Prohibition
Woman Suffrage
What entities or persons were involved?
President
New York World
Democratic Party
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Presidential Intervention In State Contests And Centralization Of Authority
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Federal Intervention And Supportive Of State Rights
Key Figures
President
New York World
Democratic Party
Key Arguments
Intervention In State Contests Raises Questions Of Centralizing Authority And Obliterating State Lines
Examples Include National Prohibition, Woman Suffrage, Child Labor Laws, Federal Railroad Regulation
Drift Toward Nationalization Contradicts Jeffersonian Democratic Tradition
Publications Like New York World Oppose Invasion Of State Rights
State's Right To Run Its Own Politics Is Being Questioned And Set Aside