The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1911-04-01


tion to all.
Is the Democratic Party Progressive?
In the sense that q political party
Is composed OF men of like political
ideas, I believe that q new political
party has been born. Its members
are in both of the old parties, and In
the absence Of the sincere adoption
of progressive principles by one or
the other Of the present parties the
organization of new party rs such
to solve the problems confronting US
will be brought about.
The Democratic party, II true to
It's traditional principles, should be
the progressive party, adopting In the
main the propaganda Of the progress
ives, much OF which is Democratic In
It's origin and fairly consistent with
that party's platform.
trust that Democracy will recog-
nize this obligation, but before this
can be done the Democracy must
face a serious internal struggle.
That there must also be q new
alignment of party membership
seems clear. The growth Of the coun-
try, the facility for inter-communica-
tion, has lessened the opposition to
Capitalization to such a degree that
greater federal direction In many
ways is recognized as . necessity,
and many Democrats, IS well as Re-
publicans, are in favor Of 1t, provided
It be surrounded with proper safe
guards.
The tariff Is now recognized as
''local issue" ito borrow General Han
cocks famous phrase), to be adjusted
with regard to general economic
rather than individual needs, and
such being the case there is little ba-
Bis Of distinction ~ to principle be-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .nnlsas waaeraa
that the future will find us with .
conservative party representing
wealth and reaction, and progress
i've party responsive to the needs Of
the hour, and 1t may be consistent
ly radical party without interference
with legitimate business interests.
The suggestion is now made that
Roosevelt, LaFollete and others will
convert the Republican party into
radical party and that when this oc-
ours the Democratic party will be-
come the conservative party, repre-
senting the so-called interests" or
privilege-owning classes, who will
furnish 1t with the financial means
for victory at the polls, and the inti-
nation also follows that as now con-
stituted these interests regard the
Democratic party rs the safer party
for them, q view largely taken In the
last New York state campaign by
men identified with important cor
porstions.
There is, however, large body of
Democrats who feel that the party
must not allow itself to be controlled
by the interests and that 1t must drive
the interests away from 1t, and that
It can only do SO by adopting and
living up to platform so progressive
as to make any alliance between the
vested interests and the holders of
privilege within the Democracy i'm
possible.
In the internal struggle, however,
the Democracy has to purge itself OF
these Democrats for profit, and
whether 1t Is to be the progressive
party must depend upon the result of
this contest.
To succeed In this endeavor we
must recognize that the problems
suggested by the progressives are
not only economic and political but
have their basis in matters largely
ethical and gravely personal.
The cry must not be only for spe-
ciiic reforms advocated but tor the
elimination of the men who stand for
graft and privilege. These men are
equally In force in both parties. They
work together or separately rs the
interests may dictate. They are OBJ
structionists to real reforms, and
their influence must be destroyed,
otherwise we shall have pretensions
and palliatives instead of remedies.
The Democratic party for the future
must recognize that there cannot be
any reform meriting success so long
~ they have vestige Of influence in
the party.-From will There Be a
New Party? A Democrats Answer"
by.S. Stanwood Menken, in the Amer
lean Review Of Reviews for March.