The Washington herald., 1918-04-05

ton in these columns that at no far
distant date the major parties might
pass out OF existence and new par
ties would arise from their ashes
which would bring new partisan
alignments and associations.
One such party is trying to make
its start in the nation now. 1t in
tends TO reach out and take in all
forward looking Matchmaking no
mention Of the women folks although
it speaks quite deCisively on the side
OF equal suffrage.
The objects 1t seeks to attain, how
ever, are more than interesting. From
the enumeration we can see how
this new unit might easily become the
objective of all progressives or rad
icals. As outlined to the people of
the Middle West by one of Colonel
Roosevelt's former staunch allies here
they are. Glance over the list and
see what work is ahead for this am
bilious crew:
THE new party will live because it
has adopted a national platform in
cluding for the first time I'm American
politics the full program of the far
mer and the full program of organ
lied labor.
THE new party will live because
its three-fold program of political
democracy. industrial democracy and
international democracy appeals
strongly to every fundamental demo-
crat. National suffrage. national ini-
tiative, referendum and recall. short
ballot, proportional representation.
national prohibition, public ownership
Of public utilities. democratic taxa
ton, full programs of the farmer and
laborer. international democracy
making to the formation of a union
of the nations to enforce interna-
tiOnal equality and the maintenance
of peace-these principles of our plat
form in due time will bring to the
support of the new party all forward
looking men and women. The new
party bids fair to become the real
reform party-the liberal party in
American politics"
In the preface to his Congress
sional Government" Woodrow Wilson
outlined eighteen years ago some of
the functions of the very office which
he is filling today. And after some
Of William McKinley's experiences
in the Spanish war. the then college
teacher wrote into his work some very
interesting matter. AS one reads it
he can quite readily grasp what the
Presidents ideas are at the present
moment. He feels, in fact, 1t is plain
to see from this work, that he is the
leader and guide of the nation and
that while Congress nominally has
some powers unto itself. most of
these must be temporarily passed
over to him during a great crisis
such as we are in at the present
time. This section of the preface
reads as follows:
Much the most important change TO
be noticed is the result of the war
with Spain upon the lodgment and ex-
ercise of power within our federal
system; the greatly increased power
and opportunity for constructive states
manship given the President, by the
plunge into international politics and
into the administration of distant de-
tendencies, which has been that wars
most striking and momentous conse-
quence.
when foreign. affairs play a promi-
nent part in the politics and policv
Of a nation, its executive must oi
necessity be its guide; must utt,i
every initial Judgment, take every
first step of action, supply the infor-
nation upon which it is to act, sug-
gest and in large measure control its
conduct. There is no troubla
now about getting the President a
speeches printed and read. every
word. Upon his choice. his character,
his experience hang some of the most
weighty issues of the future. .
1t may be that the new leadership of
the Executive. inasmuch as it is likely
to last, will have very far-reaching
effect on our whole method Of gov
ernment." 80.
Debate on the Overman bill happens
to be on as This part of the work is
read and as the President is endeav-
oring to have Congress carry out some
of the very vital principles which ne
laid down in this work. Il will be In
teresting to- see what finally comes