The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-09-27
PARTY LABELS LOSING THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE.

THE democratic organization,
says Senator Bristow of Kansas, lis
in the hands of the interests, just as
the republican organization is in the
hands of the interests. The only
hope | see for progressive legisla-
ton is to elect men to congress who
are more devoted to public than to
special interests. "
If Senator Bristow means that the
democratic national organization Is
as much under the influence of spe-
cial interests as the national organ
ization Of the republican party is,
we do not believe he could support
his statement with the evidence at
hand But undoubtedly he speaks
both wisdom and patriotism when
he advises the people, in choosing
their representatives, to give more
heed than has been their wont to
the quality Of the man and less to
his party label.
! Party names don't mean as much
/ dS LuCy ucCu w L NSbNy ySoiS
ago We could tell pretty precisely
what man elected by democratic
| constituency would do in a given
| case. So also could we foretell the
course of republican. But now the
party label gives no such certain
testimony. We shall find democrats
voting against bill to forbid the
poisoning of foodstuffs for the al
legged reason that it is "undemo
cratic" and we shall find republic
cans voting against it because 1t is
"un-republican," and we shall see
simultaneously that if the measure
passes it is because men wearing
both labels, disregarding fine theor
les spun to shackle the people, ask
themselves the single question-Is
it right? Similarly, during the con-
sheraton of the tariff bill, we have
Iseen demOc ats voting for the high
ar and republicans voting for the
lower duty, Notwithstanding repub-
licanism means protectionism and
! democracy is supposed to mean tar
if reform So, what is the connota-
tive value of the word republican or
the word democrat? Ask an adher-
jent Of either party, and he viii an
sWer by reciting a lot of pretty max
inns, but the distinction they make
S more distinction of theory than
I of practice. Put two men back to
back and start them forward in a
! straight line, and if they keep going
! they will embrace each other on the
other side of the earth: and so it
Is that we have democrats and re-
publicans who follow opposite theo-
ries to the extreme which brings
them together in cooperation. We
/ have lately found that the proof OF
the cans contents was seldom on its
some legislation to compel greater
agreement between the promise of
the label and the contents of the
vessel. We can not perhaps contrive
any measure lHdl VIII make Tue pro-
fessions of politician guaranty !
OF his performance; but we can, as
Senator Bristow suggests, concern |
ourselves less with the party label |!
and more with the conduct of the |
man.
The republican party is still the |
organized Conservator of privilege; |
but 1t no longer has that solidarity |
which made the task of special In
terests merely that of putting the
republican party In power They |
must, therefore, recruit reserve
force in the democratic party. The
need and the wisdom of it are seen
when Cannon's power Is saved by
timely arrival of a democratic bat
talon and when Aldrich's tariff
schedules are saved by democratic
flank movement. Party labels don't
mean a great deal; party platforms !,
are a doubtful pledge. and if the
people really want just and equitable
laws and a fair enforcement of them
they will have TO judge men by their
deeds rather than by their words