Evening star., 1920-03-07
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

- y
OF group government,
which threatens to over
throw party government
the rule of the majority on which the
American democracy is founded" This
Is the warning sounded by the elder
statesmen.
Far-seeing leaders in Congress are
grasping the evil import of proscrip-
ton by organized groups, and are
counseling together how to ward of
this impending menace, which they
regard as more dangerous in its posi-
bilities than in the intent Of the group
leaders.
The essence Of the evil lies, it is
pointed out, in the fact that these
groups are for their own interests.
first. last and all the time" no matter
what the extent Of wreckage gener-
ally may be. In contradistinction to
this. the political parties have had
the saving grace Of platforms. upon
which they go before the people for
support They pledge themselves to
work for a gen.l. program approved
by the voters. while the groups would
make all other legislation subser-
Went to those issues of particular ad-
vantage or interest to themselves.
Like Germany and France.
Germany before the war and France
now are examples Of group govern
ment. with the majority always made
up Of coalition forces. The govern
ment in Germany. in particular, was
always able to get support by reach~
ing out here or there. and throwing
sop to bring some particular group
into line.
Leaders in Congress. both democrats
and republicans, are really alarmed at
the growing peril from group inva-
sion. Take organized labor, for ex-
ample. 1t has announced boldly that
it will make relentless campaign for
its friends and against those who will
not pledge answering support to or
ganized labor's demands. It's manifes-
tos were a first warning-now it is
actually prescribing men.
The same thing IL being done and
has been done for a long time by
the Anti-SaIoon League. but in all
fairness It should be said that the
Anti-Saloon Leagues campaigns have
not been selfish. but for a principle.
an ideal. a conviction. and the fact
that some few agents might profit was
incidental rather than q primary OBJ
ject.
The Non Partisan League IN some
western states, certain farm oryanf-
zations business and Industrial asso-
Citations. and even church federations.
are joining the coterie Of groups that
individually are working for some
particular legislation, but which in
the aggregate imperil the democratic
form Of government.
Group Aavantaee souxht.
All these groups Of people are or
ganized for their own advantage, or
particular beliefs. in distinction from,
and sometimes in opposition to, the
general interests and welfare of the
public These groups are demand
ing subservience on the part of mem
bers of Congress.
The Anti-Saloon League is seeking
$5o.000.00o to see that no "wets'' get
into Congress. and that as many pro-
hibitionists as possible are seated.
Backed by the brewers and 6istiIlers
and the following generally described
as "wets." another we'll financed cam
paign is being wa9ed to keep those
subservient to the "drys" from get
ting elected. The railroad people
have their prescribed list and organ
ized labor as a whole has drawn up
a list Of '.proscribsd." The business
interests also are marking for de-
feat certain members unfriendly to
their varied programs.
The natural result would be, the
party sages emphasize. to get a num-
Der Of people in Congress who would
not be standing primarily on a polit-
ical platform on which they were ac-
countable to their home people and
home interests, but who would be
accountable in the main to group in
terests and dominated by group self
ishness. Then you must figure on
coalition government - combinations
to put this or that measure over-log-
rolling.
Congress must beware Of entan-