The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1913-01-23
SCHEME TO
AMALGAMATE'
Continued from page ~

SoASiOtC, ciooCly dlHdlS dHldleO pO-
litical organization, quite as much
so as either party is today. AS
independent entities, the Republi
can and Progressive parties void
disappear.
The scheme of the holding party
could be worked out in some such
way as this:
Let the voters of each party in
the several states call conference,
q statewide conference, to discuss
the plan and to appoint delegates
to the national conference. These
state gatherings would not be joint
conferences. Each party would
hold its own conference made up
of its own men. The national con
ference, on the other hand, would
consist of an equal number Of del
egates from the two parties.
The work of the national con-
ference would be to get together
on principles and policies, and to
select a name for the new holding
party. Such a conference would
have a very important and very
Tar reaching piece Of work on it's
hands. 1t should have sufficient
time for such an undertaking.
weeks, or months, if need be. 1t
would not only embrace the pro-
blem of harmonizing, but would
have to work out policies and
principles that would be represen-
tative Of the best thought of the
day.
This conference might well take
on the scope of a constitutional
convention, such, for example, as
the recent constitutional conven-
ton of the state Of Ohio. "A thorough
study by the conference of the
problems of government, both
state and national, would be a
businesslike way of arriving at a
sound basis for amalgamation and
for fixing upon the policies and
principles of the new party.
The old way of writing a poll
tical platform amid the stress anc
storm of a national convention
when all is excitement, and interest
is almost wholly centered on the
nominations, is ridiculous. There
isn't serious note in It; there
isn't bit of common sense in it
Too much time cannot be giveI
to a piece of work that means sc
much to a hundred millions oil
people, and that means so mucl
to a party. Three months SHOULD
be given to the work, instead Of
fractional part of three days, al
has been the custom.
1t is very big and tremendous
ly serious undertaking to write
with intelligence and broad know
ledge the platform of a big, ma
tion-wide political party. 1t i.
an instrument of craftsmanship
business, humanity, and uplift tc
the whole nation.
The platforms of the Republi
can and the Progressive parties
are in many respects much the
same. On economic policies they
substantially agree. The Progress
i've platform is freer from the
slavery of tradition, and goes fur
ther in the direction of social jus
tice and industrial evolution
Moreover, it urges many good poll
cies not covered by the Republi
can platform. But the difference
between the two would not seen
to be insuperably great if the rep
resentatives of each, meeting OF
neutral ground, should try earn
estly and honestly to harmonic
them.
Two-thirds of the voters of tn
Republican party are as advanced
in heart and idea as the more ser
ious and substantial men of tn
Progressive party. These men
officially in different parties, Sc
things in the same way. Forminl
a decided majority, as they do, o
each party, they should, in the in
terest of efficient legislation TO
the common good, get together III
der one banner. Divided, as the.
are, into two organizations, the,
have no political power.
"The Liberal party" would b
very comprehensive and appro
pirate name for the new holding
! - o,,,+o -, I,