Arizona republican., 1919-07-27
American Partisanism

Partisanism is deplorably stronger in American politics than the public affairs of any other nation in the world. There parties in Great Britain and France but their success there depends their ad herence to or their adoption of certain policies. No claim is made in either of those countries upon blind loyalty to party. The government, that is the dominant party may adopt course which imme- dately alenates large section of the membership The newspapers of those countries which have been supporting opposing the government may in twenty hours find to align themselves with the other side.
 In this country party leaders and partisan news papers cling to party regardless of it's policies The name is the fetich We find eminent republicans op- posing policies of the administration only because they are administration policies and we find demo- crats supporting them only because they admin istration policies.
 This tendency runs down through the masses though happily not as strony it used to do But there is something wrong with system of govern ment when of ordinary intelligence and of supposed common sense, waits to what attitude his party leaders will before he dare assert himself regarding public policy.
 ' We have a very strong illustration of this tendency in the dispute in progress the disposition of several millions of dollars worth food supplies left in the hands of the government after the war These supplies consist of canned meats, canned vegetables and fruits and other commodities. Our constantly laundering secretary of did know what to do with all this stuff. At first he intended to send it abroad, notwithstanding there scarcity of all these things in this country and they selling at higher prices than ever had been known
 Bakers first objection offering this stock for sale at home was that goods put up in larger packages than would be bought by consumers. But he at last induced to give the people chance Finally large lot offered for sale to the people of Baltimore and other cities. The sale lasted only short time but the goods avidy bought by householders at prices high little higher than the government had paid
 Then the sale was stopped it charged in sress on pressure exerted by the whole sale and retail dealers with whose profiteerng schemes it interfering. Then Baker thought up another excuse for withholding these food supplies from sale: afraid that they would fall into the hands of spectators. Certainly those already sold had not been taken by spectators Moreover, if spectators could these supplies they could ner all supplies and hold the country their mercy. And more. the spectators far as concerns Ameri can consumers might as well have these supplies for Baker to hold them send them to Europe So long they withheld from price-ridden Ameri cans it makes difference who is holding them.
 Now we have the spectacle of the democrats in the house of representatives opposing movement of the majority to make Baker let of these supplies to sell them to the American people at just price It is a movement which must have the endorsement of every American who is not canner who is engaged in food profitteerng. Yet because Baker happens to be of the administration, the democrats of the house though they dare not endorse defend bis policy throwing every obstacle in the way of an attempt to make him change it.
 Some of them. suppose, to such lengths does partisanism go in this country insane enough to defend Baker and repeat his silly excuses on the floor of the house.