New-York tribune., 1912-02-19
TILE rELL.uSHOW.rOIOTE CLrB

THE TELL-tS-HOW-TO-' Ofh 'h' d.
That Tell-Us-I s-IIow-tO-N0te Club may
have been started in the spirit of SATIRE,
but what reason is there why the sage Oh
Lincoln should not turn even the satire
of men to praise him? Many true word
is spoken in jest. and the testers nave
perhaps bulded better than they knew
both for Mr.. Bryan and their party.
In the first place. there is not the
slightest doubt that the Democratic Cor
grcssmen need tell-us-how-to-vote
oracle. If there ever was collection ot
statesmen bearing the RESPONSIBILITY OF
government with more heterogeneous
inconsequential, contradictory and inapt
set of ideas and impulses, it was some
other Democratic majority in some ear
lier House of Representatives. y unit'o
null even in the wrong direction Would
he better for the party than the present
exhibition of baking forty-mule team
Paternalism is what they need. rel
erendum which will enable them TO tol-
low some definite road of legislation
would be more Immediately useful to
Them than a referendum on their legiS-
lation when passed. Unity even IN de-
| struction is better than disorganizatloh'
The crew of a sinking ship drawn mp in
order with the band playing is far more
admirable than a mob rushing about in
turmoil and jumping overheard one by
| one tO snatch at floating Spars. SO a
really respectable party might be formed
| if all the Democrats in Congress would
| ioin the Tell-Us-How-to-VOte Club ana
answer under the unit rule as instructed
| from Lincoln on every question. from Il
motion to adjourn to the passage of a
pension bill
As for Mr.. Bryan, he could have no
objection TO the scheme. He now offers
the instruction uninvited, and if for
maIIy invested with the powers OF Il
mentor he would only he fulfilling the
function which he is confident Provi-
dence meant him to perform. OF course.
he might find attention TO the details OF
routine votes a little trying, but that
burden is one which belongs to par
liamentary leadership. The Government
and Opposition leaders in the House OF
Commons or under any ministerial gov
ernment must shoulder ii. If Mr. Bryan
were an ambitious politician he might
find the necessity Of deciding all SORTS
of delicate questions embarrassing. 1t
is easier for the ofticeseeker to choose
his own ground and make his commit
ments only where he sees some advan-
| tage to himself. But Mr.. Bryan is not
an ambitious politician. He is Sage
who has put aside personal expectations
and is ready to fight the battles of the
people without thought of self. There
| fore, he would he sure TO find the Office
of director general Of the Tell-Us-How-
to-Vote Club the place of duty and op-
portunity. There he could work out a
consistent policy and see to all the de
tails Of its promotion. Even a Presi-
dent cannot do that, but must be content
with half way fulfilment Of his recon-
mendations.
! The Tell-Us-How-to-Vo Club is n
great invention. 1t is the one organ Of
government which the American system
! has lacked to secure unity of purpose,
| straightnesS of aim and the sway Of
ideas in legislation. 1t ought to be set
seriously to work But we fear it will
not be- The Democrats in Congress are
too easily diverted from set purposes by
"happy thoughts The BanderlOg al
ways were going to have a leader, but
they never followed one for more than
/ "a minute or two"