New-York tribune., 1919-07-17
Democrats a Party
Without a Policy.
Declares Menken
Democratic Congress League
Founder, Who Has Become
Republican, Asks Separate
Platform Conventions

S. Stanwood Menken. widely known
lawyer and lifelong Democrat, who
surprised old friends this week by
leaving his old party and joining the
National Republican Club, says the
reason that impelled him to leave the
Democratic party was it's absolute lack
of policy and its domination by one
man who has taken all sides OF every
great public question.
Mr.. Menken, whose firm, Beekman
Menken g. Griscom, is one of the old
est in the city, comes of family that
always has trained with the Demo-
Gratis. He was born in the South, al
though his father was a Union officer
In the Civil War. Mr.. Menken in
1905 formed the Democratic Congress
League and was the head of the or
eanization in this city. Asked yes
terday why he had quit his old af-
fliations, he said:
1.-THE thing that has converted me
is the absolute lack of policy on
the part of the Democratic party. 1t
has no definite aims, unless it be the
league of nations, to which, in its
present form, am bitterly opposed
! do not believe that, with the South
ern Democrats in control and with
It's incoherent views, it is conceiva Bile
for the party TO meet the definite re-
construction problems of this country.
During the last three years the party
has been represented by nothing but
the views of one man, who, it seems
to me, has been on all sides of every
large public question. That situa-
ton, coupled with the burden the New
York Democracy has to bear of Tam
many Hall and our representation
through it by incompetent men iii
Congress, has convinced me that
patriotism requires alignment with the
Republican party"
two Parties Needed
America o-day needs two polit5 cal
parties representing the conviction. of
their members as TO principles and
prepared 10 enact with absolute good
faith party declarations framed with
the concurrence of the general body
Of the party continued Mr. Merken.
"a hand-picked committee on resolu-
tons cannot perform this function.
The condition of popular unrest and
the determination of patriotic workers
to cure the scandalous situation which
has developed through tho failure CT
Congress 10 rlset live issues fear assly
plete change N organization of the
political parties. They must be re-
stored to the people. This means that
the national committees and hereditary
masters CT the party must be prepared
to trust al party members to frame
the party issues or meet defeat.
&c further requires on the part
OF the citizen a recognition Of the fact
that the governmental problems init
mately relate themselves to the life of
each individual. and every man has, to
meet his political spon-ibilities. We
can no longer have government by de-
!ault 81 the governed.
Calls Remedy Simple
"The remedy for this condition is
comparatively simple. Heretofore the
politicians have devoted thems selves
to obtaining office. The formation OF
party platform has been the inciden-
tai part Of any national convention. I
Suggest that the national committee Of
eacA party call national conference
q the members Of it's party about
three months prior to the national