Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-24
THE SILENT PARTNERS IN A
0NE-MAN PARTYN

DERsoNAL government soon gave way
70 majority government in the early
days, luckily for this Republic. II was
the Democratic party which caused this
swcrvo from oiigarchy TO democracy, that
party which Mr.. Wilson never tires of
Describing as tho one party which, has
survived. which is the only party he be
lieves will survive, It's, contemporaries.
Tho reason given for this permanen6e Is
this very refusal TO be subservient to
one man or TO a small group OF men.
Then why has Il suddenly abandoned It's
one great permanent principle. II It is
to be 30 permanent why has It sud
denly decided to stake all its future
on the personal fortunes OF one man IL
It is not to continue to be one-man
party7
When the Democratic party captured
the House in the 1910 elections and
elected a number OF Democratic Cover.
nors, Mr.. Wilson had no voice in the
councils Of the national party. He was
merely one OF the successful guberna-
torial candidates, all OF whom immedi-
ately wanted TO be promoted to the presi.
dency. Mr.. Clark became Speaker of the
House. and the House was reorganized
on Democratic principles-the Speaker
was to have no power. was to be mere
hgurehead. Committee appointments were
to be made by committee and the party
caucus was 10 determine the course of
legislation. There was free-for-all scrim.
mage for the presidential nomination, as
was Democratically proper among men
committed to equality. Surely the Presi.
dent was TO be as much of a figurehead
as could be possible among these freemen
who knew not what the word master"
meant Clark, Wilson, Harmon, Under.
wood. Marshall, Baldwin, Foss, Bryan,
Sulzer, Kern, Gaynor. Lewis and James
all received votes in the convention at
DaithnoIe. WlSOn won.
These men, It was to be supposed, were
destined to share with Mr.. Wilson the
conduct of affairs. But as the political
and diplomatic weather clouded over, all
vanished from the scene. Even Bryan
lost his mastery got delusions, mistook
flock Of insipid peace doves for the
dogs Of war and fed. Marshall, forget
ting that he had been a favorite son
candidate for the presidency, gave that
last unheard Of devotion to his chief by
announcing that IL the mantle fell upon
his shoulders he would resign. Clark
grumbled something to the effect that IL
Wilson didn't want the nomination this
year II would be of no use to any other
Democrat. Sulzer was impeached, Gay
nor died. Foss isn't sure whether he is
a Republican. Democrat or a Prohibi-
ZIONIST.
Not only are the representatives Of the
various sections and classes In the Dem
ocratic party to continue to be volun-
tarily subject to the Presidents wiil-he
is even to name his successor in the event
that he is incapacitated. Mr.. Marshall
would rather have Mr.. Wilson's Score
tary Of State be first In line of success
sion. In vain has Mr.. Wilson said,
There has been no Wilson policy.
did not lead these gentlemen, I merely
went forward with them" Who are
these gentlemen"7 Has Mr.. Kitchin
really led the House7 Did Mr.. Hay really
handle military affairsf In Senator Stone
really the genius OF the Administration
foreign poiioy7 Not if they can help It
will they be so described. It's sink or
swim with Wilson; the angel that will
save them or the goat to take the blame
This nation had evolved a Chief Mag
istrats responsible to the whole people,
and particularly to the majority made
vocal through its leaders A minority
carne into power. but seemed for a time
likely to draw to 1t the third party,, Is
1t any wonder that the third party has
refused to Join this band OF speechless and
subjugated men. who have had neither
the ability TO aid their President in con-
structive work nor tho character to save
him from his errors7 The Progressives
return to the party in which there are
men who are not afraid to speak lest
they betray ignorance. who do not lose
interest in great affairs when they find
they have neither the chance nor the
ability 10 be President.