Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-08-01

uul de usuIpdllOu grew us SllHe
grew less and less effective until now
it has lost its terror to all save those
who either Immediately profit by the
spoils of party victory or have hopes
of it in the near future.
So new alignments are being
| forced. Ii is the interested citizen
against the self-seeking politician
backed by the privileged few. And
the citizen will win because he rep
resents eight-tenths of the total vote
of the nation. Before. the people
could take over the powers of govern
ment it was absolutely necessary
that the power of party organization
be destroyed. For those in control OF
party organization were the abusers
and the abusers have never. yet been
known to correct their own abuse
The primary was invented as an in
strument through which the powers
of government could be brought back
to the people. And it is proving ef-
fective wherever tried. The primary
system is a boss destroyer. Party
organization cannot be maintained
without bosses and spoils. In states
where the primary is in action about
the only thing left of the old party
organization is a combination of Of
fice-holders who want to hold their
jobs and office-seekers who hope for
party preferment.
Party loyalty has lost its force.
Those seeking alone for just govern
ment are not particular what politi-
cal instrument is used for its accom-
l.plishment. The system that governs
best is best. The organization. or
party, or system, that will quickest
and most effectually put the powers
of government back into the hands
of the governed will gain the sup
port of the rank and file of all par
ties.
! In this new movement it may be
confidently expected that most of
those who have stood as leaders will
be slow to depart from the old or
! ganiZations. Men who have led un-
der the old system have generally
profited by their leadership. They
hold positions of honor and emolu-
ment, and they will be slow to cast
their lot with an untried movement.
Self-interest is among the strongest
sentiments in human nature. 1t may
! be expected that most of the leaders
will go down with the rotten raft
rather than launch out on an untried
one.
Therefore the new movement will
be peoples movement without the
aid of those who have gained repu-
tation as leaders.
The case of Governor Deneen of
Illinois is one directly in point. He
favored Roosevelt in the Chicago
convention. He witnessed the brazen
theft of that body by the bosses,
nevertheless he now stands for Taft.
Self-interest has gained the ascend
ency He will stick to the old or
ganization because it raised him to
power, rather than follow his princi-
pies into an untried movement.
Governor Deneen is highly praised
by the reactionary press for his
stand. They say he could do moth
ing less, as an honest republican.
They seem to think honesty is best
expressed by following a candidate
whose nomination was gained by
naked theft, and the organization
which brazenly violated justice.
The old party politicians will hold
this view and be backed by the reac-
tionary and boss-ridden press. but
the people will take different view
of the matter.
Old orders political are passing
away and unless human nature re-
verses itself most of the old leaders
will pass away with them.