New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-23
PRESIDENT HADLEY AT HARVARD.
His Views on Opportunities for Political
influence.


Bref and inaccurate reports of the informal
address which President Hadley Of Yale made
before the Harvard Union January Is have
led to some Incorporate criticism 1.-THE Yale
Alumni Weekly" furnishes the following sum-
mary OF what he actually said. 1t seems, far
from deserving censure, to be a timely and ad-
mirable statement of wholesome TRUTHS
in politics is to identity himself with some party;
any ONCE to which he may be elected as well as
the conditions permit. and look for the promotion
in any other business Where a man accepts the
rules of the game and plays it skilfIlly The dis
is that such man secures his influence at the
measure bound by the platform OF the party which
nominated him to office He is in some measure
that party, even where those changes may not
meet his approval He is frequently obliged 10
service rather than public service is made to con-
stitute a claim for appointment to salaried oiIice
other form of reward.
Seeing the evil which results from this loss OF m
extreme-to cut loose from party organizations
altogether, voting for the best measures and the
party supports them. Those who hold this view
voters could force the regular party organizations
to compete for their approval, and thus conpei
those organizations to do better things for the
country than would otherwise be probable. They
point TO the Presidential election of 1884 as an IN
stance where this result was actually accom-
piished Such an independent vote Is often use
ruI GnnR. In municipal aHaNS IL IL no" PiO%ty
generally recognized that a wise man should n9r
let his choice of candidates be governed by then
national party affiliations
DRAWBACK TO INDEPENDENT ACTION.
But even at the very best the exercise of this
political independence IS accompanied by loss
of positive influence. The Independent vote may
sion, As American politics is conducted party or
tnuous carrying out of defined policy from year
TO year, and even to the consistent execution OF
any set of measures by the administration and
legislature within the limit of single year We
not like this fact but we cannot afford to ig-
1 believe it is both possible and wise to take a
middle ground between the theories of the extreme
partisan the one hand and those of the extreme
independent on the other. end that he who taxes
binng the requisite amount of influence and in
dependence TO make his work power for good in
the country's history.
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE DESIRABLE.
In taking this middle ground, should advise
not to into politics until he had some
HIM and his aTiIv from Starvation upon which
he could fall back il he defeated for ONCE OF
felt that he could not honorably accept office under
the conditions imposed. II he has no inherited
wealth it is well for him to get sufficient start tar,
him this necessary minimum of self-support before
becoming candidate for Office.
This basis having been attained. should advise
him to connect himself with the party whose attl-
the country is going to need in the long run in
the way of measures and men When he Is IN o IH5,
identify himself with 1t as prominently as PosSiole,
When ne THINKS Is doig paq h ne soSced 70 sup
port measures which he disapproves If the issue
arises in advance he can decline the nomination:
office he has a more difficult problem 10 decide.
where he must balance conflicting claims OF az
legiance as we'll he can-taking care never 10
sacrifice his conscience TO temporary expectancy;
itics for the time being. while mistakes are being
made or wrongs being tolerated. leaves him more
independent for the moment and stronger IN Ihe
long run than If he compelled to stay IN ONCE
to keep his children from starving. II II happens
that a man can find within the councils OF his
party q leader somewhat older than he Is ana
whom he trusts thoroughly and to whose fortunes
he can attach himself. I believe It TO be good
tween a leader and followers IL so often used TOT
bad ends in American politics should not blind us
TO rghtness and excellence when 1t is used Tor
good ends.
PARTY LIKENED TO CHURCH.
A mans attachment TO a party, looked at In this
way does not imply that he agrees with every
article OF it's platform, any more than man
attachment TO a particular church inlpnes In1s ne
believes or even understands. every single erucie
in its creed a party like a church, Is an instr
tuition and one which seems TO have proved neces-
sary in the government of the country: we attAcn
ourselves 70 Il when believe II Is dolng eood,
and as long as have sympathy with It's genera
aims and purposes and believe that II is doing
moro good than harm. there is no obligation upon
us to separate ourselves from II or TO act In an
tagonism 10 K because there are men with,n l.s
nais whose conduct we disapprove or articles IN
its platform concerning which we feel serious
doubt. , ,., -,
Of Influence for good than he gains in the way OF
Independence from evil. His error Is alnost as
great as that of the man who SO completely SIMS
his individuality in the party that he Is not ane 10
improve its standards or insist lnat u siia'i NC
come a means of service to the nation