Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-09-14
PARTY ORGANIZATION.


Representative
1 The tendencies Of our times are to
ward individualism. Many Of our lead,
ing newspapers and magazines condemn
organisation a. 40 evil and menace t.
good government. do not agree viii
them. a few greatmsn ii this worlds
history have blazed the way u high
ideala BY standing alone IN advance 81
their times, but they have not been the
leaders Of men; they have not written
ON the statute books the principles they
advocated; they have not builded into
stone and iron the industrial machinery
that has made our Nation great and
prosperous
Cur national growth has advanced
step by step with some powerful or
ganization behind it. This is true
whether it be in the fields Of religious,
industrial or political development.
Party organization was necessary
evolution Of free Government. No
party could exist long If its sole pur-
pose was to divide among the yictors
the spoils Of office. Great principles
have created great political parties;
party organizations have not created
| great political parties; party organize
tions have not created the great prin-
ciples of Government. Individuals
standing alone can not advance the
principles they believe are the best for
the government Of. our country. The
need for a compact organization to
maintain and advance the government
tai principles that men believe IN gave
birth to party alignment. When you
hear men decrying out political parties,
at the same time you find them en-
deavoring to perfect an organization to
overthrow the evils they cry out against.
Party organization is political
necessity that must be maintained for
the advancement Of the Nation. Men
should not condemn q strong political
organization because Of it's power to
accomplish results, but pass Judgment
on the purposes and principles for which
it is maintained, and as to whether or
not the results that spring from it are
onward steps to the upbuilding Of our
National Standards and ideals.
For many years the National Demo-
cratic party has been unable to accom-
plish results on the legislative battle
field, because it lacked the cohesive
strength of a perfected organization
working to produce a definite result.
Today we have in the National House
Of Representatives as thorough and as
perfect an organization Of the Demo-
cratic members as was ever Witnessed
in the history Of our Congress. The
are not organized for public plumber.
but to advance the great principles Of
the Democratic party. They are not
organized to loot the public treasury,
but to lift from the backs Of the Ameri-
con people some of the unjust burdens
of taxation placed there by decades Of
mlsrule under Republican administra-
ton.
Those who would destroy our party
organization and defeat the enactment
unto law Of our party principles, decry
our caucus as un-American, they do
not tell you that it requires two thirds
vote to make the action of a Democrat
ic caucus Of the House Of Representa-
tives binding as party, measure, that
each individual member has the right
to exempt himself from the caucus rule,
if the proposed legislation is contrary
to the dictates of his conscience. or not
in keeping with his promises to his con-
stituents. No organization could be
more liberal, and yet no organization
has been more thorough. You can
count on the fingers Of one hand the
men who have broken from the Demo-
cratic party since the beginning Of the
present Congress.
And to those who decry our organiza-
ton, let them consider what we have
accomplished for the American people
We have reduced the cost Of the
clerical force in the House Of Repre-
sentatives over one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars year by abolishing
useless Offices
We have passed i bin through the
House ID the interest Of honest cleo
tons, providing for the publicity Of
campaign contributions before the day
Of the election.
We have given our sanction to an
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States TO authorize the selection
Of Senators 81 the United States By !
direct vote Of the people.
We have passed the necessary reso-
buttons to authorize the immediate ad-
mission into tie Union 81 the territories
Iof Arizona and New Mexicos keeping
the pledges Of the Constitution 70 hum
dreds 81 thousands Of free people. that
they should bs admitted to ~ the
rights and privileges of selfsgOveFn-
~.