Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-17
Sound Political DoctrIno

NCT OF the fetid atmosphere OF political
" wrunglng. personal snarls, inter and
intra party chickering's and industrial and
capitalistic greed and SeliishneSS, there comes
Il voice as OF one CRYING in the wilderness Of
disscnsion and dscord II is the voice OF
Thomas Il. Marshall, Nice-President of the
United States, man whose mind is as sound
whose heart as loyal whose democracy as
unluestoncd as were those Of any of the
party's founders i'll the days before self-in-
tcres and eNpediency had been substituted
for loyalty and principle.
Thomas Marshall always has been stall
wart among stalwarts, conservative, though
never reactonary, Democrat. AS Cover
nor OF indiana he WAS one Of the strong men
of tho party, standing firmly on the ancient
principles OF the party and never running off
after strange political idols. AS Vice-Presi-
dent after the fashion Of the Office he has
been in measure politically shc1vcd and he
accepted the situation with becoming grace.
For his seeming official innocuousness. his
loyalty TO the administration and the party
has been responsible. Deliberately he has
rcfraincd from anything that might seem an
attempt 10 dictate or 10 lead. He has sub
ordnalcd himself completely to his Chief.
SO persistent and SO conscientious has he
been in this attitude that his published ut
tcranccs have given tho public q false idea
OF his character and ability. II has been led
10 believe him rather shallow and inclined
TO frivolty OF mind rather than deep and
determined seriousness of purpose.
That impression is IL mistaken one-de-
cidedly mistaken Ii nothing else had hap
pcned save tho statement OF his views given
in announcing his candidacy as delegate
at large 10 the San Francisco convention,
that would he sufficient to disabuse the pub
lie mind and mark Mr.. Marshall as sound
thinker, Il Democrat whose sane leadership is
far removed from the modern-day idealists,
n hn ri
turn If it is to continue to be q vital factor
i'll the government OF the United States
Mr.. Marshall would discard the present
day isms and political panaceas, and rest
upon few ancient and time-honored Demo-
cratic doctrines" Good! In class legisla-
ton he sees only failure. There are or
should be, only two divisions OF American
the lawabiding and tho lawbreak-
ing, and OH that basis the government should
rest. Recognition OF the fact that "this is
still federation Of States, local self-govern-
ment. resistance 10 Federal usurpation,
cleansing OF the courts, economy, regulation
Of public utilities, punishment OF profiteers-
in brief. 4 return TO the ''old-time Demo-
cratic platform under the principles which
the republic for SO many years was con
tented, prosperous and inrincble''--are urged
IN his personal platform, which might we'll
be adopted as the party's presentation OF
prihc'pies On such a platform it could go
before the people, make honest old
fashioned fight and win. In event that Mr..
Marshall is made chairman of the platform
committee his views more than likely to
obtain in the convention. And should PARTY
affairs cventuate after this fashion it is not
impossible that the party, measuring up the
man and finding him of full political stature,
might draft him for still higher honors. An
olu-time Democrat an old time platform
would be wholesome and refreshing politi-
cal combination