The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-31
| | [ c = | ? . " T r,
9f d5e
L L L G Z @ r [ Z K 5
z[BzAFFAANO Problems for Party Leaders Listening
@Ssgofor The Ne1yest Rumble from the "Frat' House

- OPTICIANS who prnctical-which usual
= ~ means successfuI-have had their ears
close 10 the ground for a long time trying to
make ont the importance Of the newest rumble
in politics the influence of the arstocratlc col.
oge fratccntIes
Thc Warwicks and their able aids In the political
amps are nearly always the first detect any new
factor that promises political development but in try
ng to 'Slzc up the Greek letter fraternity problem
they have for tackled proposition that is baf.
ding, Its solution has been douby hard to the party
organization leader because as a rule be has little
knowledge of the force.
But the Messrs Taft and Roosevelt. Hughes md
Hitchcock scores OF officials in prominent Offices
have observed the fraternity factor and have taken
the lead in forcing its recognition by the organiza
tions
About the time that the voter who is fifty years
Of casting his first ballot the party leaders In
their secret council meetings were beginning to recog
nzc the college element in making up all party
foreign element and others
The political chieftains have recently been learning
differentiatc in the college element in prcpar.
Ing tickets TO captlvate the voter The fraternity
alumni have become numerous that they are re-
fercd to In political parlance a class,
Figures talk loudcs in practical politics. and it is
that conversation which has convinced the political
leaders Of the importance OF the Greeks There were
almost two hundred thousand members OF college
fracrnitles last year scattered among about fourteen
hundred chapters. This Includes every college from
Bowdou to San Francisco
Each fraternity has its alumni organization in near
y every large city, and the alumni associations and
active chapters Of undergraduates nre rs closely re-
lated parent and II there is any other
the United States which may be called caunlsb and
comparable with the solid South 1t is the solid Greek
letter vote. If Psi Epsilon man. a D X e. an
Alpha Delta a Delta U is nominated for Office
the surest thing about the candidates campaign is
that every man in his fraternity within reach will
rally to his aid quite regardless of party lines
Inventory is not made of the thirty thousand women
In fraernlties who waiting TO be counted i'm
portant factors IN politics when they win the ballot
The strength OF the frnternltles in politics is ther
wonderful organzations-as perfectly operating
machines as Tammany Hall The colleges have been
grinding away slowly for twenty thirty years to
md up the alumni associations OF fraternity men.
Each local alumni association has It's complete
Eunlzation and is In turn part Of the big central
ystem which meets In annual conventions dis"
internal affairs and policies and the welfare
lud interests OF It's members Nearly all fratcrnties
AVE a monthly magazine to complete the organIza-
ion.
The fraterniues held nloof from politics for many
7ears. always contcnding that 1t was dangerous to
introduce party strife in a social organization But
With the growing tendency regard party as less of
moral faith one fraternity after another has broken
,way from the old tradition always to help one OF
Is members who was struggling for Important
,nce.
il has become almost general axiom that n man
Who is worthy TO belong to certain fraternity is de-
serving of the support his brothers regardless OF
party lines 1t is longer regarded as unusual even
N fraternity circles to read campaign notices sent
,ut by n delegation OF ones fraternity associates
directing attention to certain candidate IN some"
thing like the following tcrms;-"He was one Oh our
men Cornell. 1857. and therefore deserves your sup
port" The frat magazines also contain arguments
for their candidates.
First Test in 1881.
One OF the first crucial tests on the queSuo" oi
whether the fraternity should enter politics was III
1881 f. n Finch was candidate for judgeship'
and his fraternity associates. regardless oil p''"''
united In helplng him They issued several hundreu'
of letters which read
Judge F. n Finch. who Is a candidate Tor the onic'
OF Judge of the Court of Appeals. is loyal Isl "n'
bo bod doon Incrost in the welfare OF the fratcr-