The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-31

erning class" It's NJ
direct result was = sksss w + N
TO overthrow the .
political aristoc- EAAE1A
racy which was modelled Gu the lines
or English practice. and which had
ruled the country from the beginning.
us indirect result was TO establish
the American system of political party
organization, which in the course OF
years has developed political
oligarchy OF greater and lesser bosses
against whom insurgency now threat
ems destruction.
The movement which resulted In
the triumph Of the Jacksonian democ-
racy in 1895 had its definite beginning
three years earlier In 1920 Monroe
had been elected president by unan-
imous vote. The congress elected In
1922 had forty Democrats in the sen
ate against eight opposition members.
and in the house there were 141 Demo
Gratis as against ~ opposition mem
bers. The majority OF these non
Democrats were known as Federalists.
although many OF them called them.
selves anti-Monroe Democrats. AS a
matter OF fact they were not organ
party in existence.
Until that time nominations for
president and vice-president had been
made by partisan caucuses OF the
members OF congress. AS long as
there were two parties OF approximate
ly equal strength this system was sat
isfactory because IL was calculated to
secure harmonious party support for
the chosen standard bearer But as
the Federalist party became more and
more ineffective, the conflicting ambi-
lions Of Democratic leaders brought
the causes into the disrepute. No am
bilious leader was willing to leave the
choice to a caucus susceptible 10 the
influences OF wirepulling when there
was abundant opportunity 10 carry the
matter TO the states for final decision.
There had been no effort TO estab-
fish a uniform method OF choosing
presidential electors I'm the several
states. and the whole system was
chaotic. The electors we're chosen b.
general state ticket. according 10 the
now established uniform practice. in.
some OF the states while in others
they were elected b. districts. and In
others they were chosen by the leSls-
lature. In each state one Of these
three methods would be selected for
each presidential election. according TO
the judgment OF the leaders OF the
majority in the state legislature.
judgment always basel upon consid-
eratiOns Of party welfare. As re-
suit. the people as a whole took little
interest in the presidential elections
and were concerned with state poll
tics. almost 10 TIE utter exclusion OF
natior-l affcirs. n was generally &C.
copied that the leaders at Washington
would choose the president, and that
the people had no business 10 inter
fere with their choice.
Although the adoption OF the CON
stitution had set Up a government diff.
fering radically in form from that of
England. it was impossible for Eng
fish cOlonists instantly To shake on
the influence of British institutions
There were two parties In England
but both Of them were represented In
all phases OF political activity 10y gen.
tlemen who were acknowledged 10 &C.
cupy a position socially superior to
the common people. These gentlemen
ana their class, regardless OF their
partisan affiliations were then and
still are known as the governing class
This practice was followed i'm the Am
erican Republic The Federaists
Adams, Way and Marshall. as well as
the Democrats Jefferson. Madison AMI
Monroe, were all social aristOcrats.
However radical may have been Mr..
Jefferson's Democratic political the
cries. and however far he may have
gone I'm decrying the superiority or
the aristocrats. he was by birth and
education a representative OF the rul-
ing classes,
In the generation OF political lead
err which appeared on the stage In