Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-07-25
"pLAY BOTH PARTIES"

L O1AOulOS I'LL Ol1C p1OoCAo O'AAo VI
the body polite quotes a part of
the TR1BUNE's editorial on 'The
Independent Voter,'' with the
following Introductory remark:
"When it comes to the practical
application of the remedy, how
ever, here is the frame of mind
which the practical voter needs
to first work himself into. 1t is
prescribed by no less a country
editor than Victor E. Lawson of
the Willmar Tribune.
After quoting the TRIBUNE he
adds:
But here again is need of a little
more specific definition. There are
two kinds Of partisan activity:
l. Under the one men unite and
organize for the purpose of carrying
out certain progressive policies or for
depressing certain public abuses.
2. Under the other men unite and
organize for the purpose of levying a
maximum of taxes with a minimum OF
public service or of public improve
ment.
The first kind of partisanship at
tracts and holds together such citizens
as John Ireland, Cyrus Northrop,
Charles M. Start and others due to be
honored, the second kind-well, the
names prominent in this second cate
CORY are too numerous-it is commonly
called The Game. To get into The
Game sometimes means to get into one
party, sometimes the other, but for a
sure winner, play both.
The classification is eminently
correct under certain circum-
stances. For instance, the men
who organized the old republican
party, later known as the demo-
cratic party, had a definite object
in view, namely the limitation of
the power Of the central govern
ment. What the people who had
just fought against a tyrannical
government most dreaded then
was a strong and oppressive
government. But gradually this
object disappeared and the demo
cratic party consisted of poiti.
clans belonging to the second
classification given by Bro. Para
dis and of people who voted the
ticket because it bore the demo
cratic label. The wing party was
also organized to advocate a prin-
ciple, and suffered the same fate.
The new republican party was
organized to right a wrong that
neither of the old parties dared
oppose. But it too fell into the
hands of the second class poll
ticians. It has today as a party
only one binding principle-and
most of the republicans of the
west are opposed to that principle
as it is exercised today, while the
democrats Of the east are as a
rule quite well satisfied with it.
In the last presidential election
neither party stood for any of the
reforms that the people wanted.
The democratic party stood for
tariff reform, as far as the plat
form was concerned, but the
leaders in charge we're too close
to the protected industries tc
make this plank anything but a
sham. The republican platform
stood for such changes in the
present tariff as circumstances
might demand, but everybody
knew that the leaders of the party
in the senate never intended tc
make any changes. Whatever
of promise there was worth any
anything to the people was in the
character of Theodore Roosevelt
He was recognized: as an advo
cate of law enforcement and pub
licity, and a large number OF
democrats and popuists voted
for him for that reason. It was
a person against a system, anc
the person won because the PEG
pie thought he was right as fa7
as he went. That is the kind O.
independence we wish to see ex
ercised by every voter in every
election. If there is a party def
nitely standing for something
you want and having candidate:
known to be right on the question
then vote for that party, but don
get into the habit of voting tina
party ticket in the future JUS
because it was right once. If a!
under. present conditions, thu
parties have become mere poll
tical machines for controlling
Offices, then vote for the hes
men regardless of labels. :.
There is a good deal of wisdom
in the closing remark of Bro
Paradis: ''for a sure winner pla,
both parties. - That is just ex
actly what the corporations hav'
been doing. It is now. time TO-
the people to play that game
When the party leaders: find ou
that the people are Independent
enough to pick out the best mel
in either party the said leader
will be anxious to please the: PEG
plein making nominations stPla,
both parties, ":don't let them&pla!
you for a sucker III. 3 .A**'= 7.