THE "SWING AROUND THE CIRCLE"

Secretary Hughes' speech Monday night in Symphony Hall raised an old issue in political affairs: "the stump or the desk". Should an administration try to influence the vote on a Congressional election? This, of course, is primarily a question for the voters to decide.

Little elasticity of memory is needed to recall the election four years ago when the President urged the voters everywhere to support Democratic candidates. The outcome suggested, that the appeal did not please the average voter, in fact that he ignored or resented it. Other administrations have "gone before the people" to a certain extent, often with the best of intentions. In Great Britain, in Canada, and Australia, such campaigning is necessary, for there the election of a new Parliament is based wholly on the record and policies of the cabinet members who take office as party leaders. It is logical enough that they should defend their positions, for this is the main issue before the British electorate.

In our political tanglefoot, however, it is Congress itself, its qualities and accomplishments, and not the Administration as a whole which is on the stand, subject to popular scrutiny, favorable or unfavorable as the election returns will show. Congress must hold up its own weight instead of leaning on the President for support; if it can do so without stepping on anybody's toes so much the better. At all events, as Secretary Hughes pointed out, in American state elections the Administration does well not to interfere more personally than to defend its general policies.