The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1908-07-02
observation-disclosures
EDITORIAL COMMENT
The Diving Parties.

The OregOnlan finds that I'm this
country we are losing the basis Of
party organization because there
are certain ideas that are accepted
as settled and fixed, and the people
divide on things, not essential, or
| even important"
Allowing for the possibility that
the Oregonian is influenced to an ex-
tent by conditions in Oregon where
a republican legislature will either
] elect democratic senator or violate
it's pledged word, yet this statement
of the party case as applied to the
nation is observably correct. What
can be done at Denver other than re-
! affirm that which was done at Chica-
go? Mr.. Bryan may write it little
stronger, but in essence the two ut
terances will be identical. The Chi
cago platform would revise the tar
if, for instance. Well, can demOc-
racy object to that at Denver. Mr..
Bryan bowls at the anti-injunction
plank; but that's only an attempt to
force an issue, isn't it? He believes,
if what he says is to be believed, in
about the same thing eXemplified in
the Chicago expression; only he pro-
fesses to believe it a little harder.
Is there a real line of party diver
gence and party demarcation here?
Can a national campaign be con-
Quoted on so fiimsy difference for
a great issue? The Chicago remarks
call for railroad regulation. What
will he said at Denver will not spell
government ownership" BY the
time democracy has found enough of
its members ready to take that step,
if ever, the republican party will al
ready have proclaimed it. Between
regulation and ownership we would
have real issue, Tor it would involve
a question of state policy actually
great; but we shall not have 1t this
year.
What the general thought in both
parties is really aiming at is the
abolition of special privilege and
the equalization of opportunities.
We may some day state the case
frankly, exactly and cOncretely. Out
of it two new parties may spring
the one urging the claims OF the in
diyidual, the other boldly pronlul-
eating the wishes of combination.
This will never arise, of course, II ref
ornation comes within the parties
themselves BY reformation we
mean that change that will bring the
individual into predOminance, for at
heart, most of us are individual SIS,
since that way has lain and seems to
lie opportunity. 1t is q curious
thing how wealth in his country, be
ginning as indiyidualistic, has turned
into combination.
So the problem in this cleo lion
turns. IS il often has, on men. on
1.-THE personalities of candidates. In
the old days, for which some con
tinue to sigh, party platform
meant something. Il was real
| declaration. and there was more or
| less widely held belief that its prem
ises would be fulfilled. For the dis
appearance Of that belief-and II mas
disappeared-the parties have none
but themselves to reproach. why
pay much heed to the platitudes OF
] present party platforms? what
! more heed can be paid them, even
when they say something. u" less
there is a certainty that they will be
vigorously regarded by the men
elected? Here then is the question
lin the coming campaign: Which OF
! the twain will you trust-Mr. TAFT Or
Mr. Bryan?
All, yes, parties are disappearing.
Direct primaries and Statements NO.
II, have had nothing to do with IT,,
but rather a changed ideal, reallza-
ton OF drift under old conditions.
What are you going to do about 1t?
And what will be the end? Go ask
the political quacks who have a pa
nacea for every political i'll. As for
lis. we trust the American good
sense and prefer to wait, hoping tha,
out of this lux somehow good Will
be evolved.
But after all, there's nothing men
acing about it. 1t merely Indicates
a busy, vigorous intellect-and an
awakened conscience. - Aberdeen
World.