Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-13
No Cause for Grcnl Haste

TT is too soon after the democratic de-
/ bacle to undertake definite plans Of
party reorganization. even If anything re-
sombling n reconstruction OF the party ma
Chinery is needed. which is open to doubt
Just because q high-gcarcd, smoothly run
ning machine colided with an immovube
object and landed in the ditch, it does not
follow necessarily that it was defective III
theory or construction, or that it will need
more than minor repairs before it again
shows its old-timc speed and stamina. So
with the Democratic party. II is right in
theory, right in principle and rugged in
construction, and this is no time, because
of the disaster upon which il has fallen, 10
talk OF revolutionary methods in its rebuild
Ing. The leaders can afford TO wait while
before deciding whether radical measures
are necessary or desirable.
Two extremes OF opinion arc hcinc rather
loudly voiced, neither one OF which is time
ly or calculated TO do the party good. The
ttarrisons and Iaggarts are proclaimng that
party needs no reorganization, that Cox
Is the tiluar and actual leader for the en-
suing four years, and ali the party needs is
Il thorough housekeeping OF the sukcrs and
sku!kers who refused 10 help ii in its late
emergency Such talk is as unfortunate as
II is uncalled for. 1t can do naught but harm
What the party needs and must have if it
Is 10 stage IL comeback two or four years
iom NOW. Is reunion, OF its scattered eie-
tatnlS. not widening OF the breach be-
tween them. II is plainly evident that many
Democrats remained out of the last cam
poiSn on principle. They were not sulkers
OF skulkcrs, but they were not on common
ground with the controlling elements of
their party. Ii should be the aim now
without thcsacriice OF principle, to find tina!
common ground on which all can stand and
once more present united front. Such
common ground can be found b. striking
OH cXtraneous issues and going back to
iirst principles as enunciatcd by Jefferson
And nowhere else can it be found Il is a
case OF taking Il fresh start
Cox may or he may not DO the party's
Moses. He made gallant fight, but it will
require tho developments OF the coming
months to determine if he is the one upon
whom the party must depend. There are
many who honestly doubt If he can concil-
late all the conflicting elements and convert
AN overwhelming defeat into a future vic
tory at the polls.
The other extreme view is that party re-
organization must be undertaken inmedi-
atcly. That is equally wrong There is no
cause for great haste. The party founda-
zion is solid as rock and as mistaken. ready
for the new snpcrstructurc when the time
snail be ripe Tor its building Let It be
frankly admitted That there are no ont
standing figures 10 take hold Of the bal
tered party and mold ii into a compact, Of
hcient lighting unit Bu; there is other
work 10 do. and while that is being done n
leader is likely to develop around whom
tn" party eventually will coalcsce To force
! the issue OF reorganization now, before the
party has fully recovered its breath. would
! De premature and ineffective. 4 date we'll
/ INTO the coming year will he early enough
| ior q general inspection OF the machinery
! ana i possible program OF repairs. In the
| meantime lets forget politics and with
| parry lines forgotten, remember that we
! are all Americans and Il tremendous task
] les Iust aheal OF ms