The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1920-06-26

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Did it ever occur to you that there
is a certain something about po-
litical party which sometimes tends
to make it our master instead of our
creation? Yet can you define that
something, and tell why it is that
millions of people will follow the
peregrinations of political organiza-
ton year after year, wherever and
whenever it leads-and seem to like
it? And at the same time CALI
themselves "free' American citizens?
1t does seem strange, yet it is true.
Every four years the republicans will
meet, adopt a platform which has
been agreed upon by the self-appoint-
ed leaders, name candidates, and go
home knowing that there are millions
of people in this country who will
support that platform and those
candidates, no matter what the plat
form says, and regardless of the men
named.
1t is also true that every four
years the democrats will meet in
national convention, name candidates,
adopt a platform, and go home
knowing that there are millions Of
free born American citizens who will
vote for that platform and those
,arnnJ1acc nf what thn
platform promises, and oblivious of
the personnel of the candidates.
Is it any wonder that machine
methods" have crept into party poll
tics, and that leaders put over mat
ters of special privilege, knowing that
millions of voters will support them
without making any particular inves-
tigation, and even without seeming
to care what they are?
1t is because of this fact that so
much money is spent in securing
nominations. Republican candidates
spent about $3,OOO,OOO in efforts to
secure nomination. If nominated,
the candidate knew that he had a
certain quantity of republican sup
port throughout the country of which
he was absolutely sure, and that his
election simply meant securing
small fraction of votes from some
where else. For it is the minority
vote that always elects. A few
thousand votes have determined the
result. The millions who voted
their party ticket were simply pawns.
The small minority did the eecting.
1t was thus four years ago.
This year, change of few
thousand votes in each state, either
way, can determine the national cleo
ton. The straight-party man is
taken as a matter of course. The
fuctuating voter does the electing.
Now why does a man vote the
straight ticket" year after year?
Is there something Of divine character
in his party which calls and holds
him to it's fold, and from which he
can not break? Are his party
leaders and his platform makers and
the nominating bosses infallible? If
so, where did they get this infa1libil-
ity, and who guarantees it? A lot
of people will object to the doctrine
of divine inspiration of the Scriptures,
and will question their authority to
prescribe for today, but at the same
time will blindly take the word of
some political shark and follow him
till hell freezes over-which it will
unless more of the voting masses fur
nish intellectual fuel to make it hot
for the political profteer. What a
trite expression: "Oh consistency,
thou art mule"
All of which may or may not lead to
the questions now before the country.
The republicans have met, nominated,
and gone home. The democrats will
soon meet, nominate, and try to get
home. The bulk of the vote of the
country might just as we'll have been
cast last January, so far as the party
voters are cOIlCSTlleu lhCy hhS"
last year which party they would
vote for. They still know the same
thing. Millions of democrats al
ready have their vote written out
and the convention hasn't even met.
Millions of republicans will vote for
Harding, even though he was named
by the same influence which Roosevelt
twice fought and defeated-for Hard
ing is on the republican ticket.
A marvellous thing-the party
ticket. 1t can make or break
nation, yet it receives the same
regular support year after year, and
the small minority is left to decide
whether or not it shall be indorsed.
New York used to decide the result.
Last time it was California. This
time it may be the state of Wash
ington, or the city of Kalamazoo.
We are all dependent on that minor
ity's decision.
Don't we ever rebel? Yes, some
times we door at least some do.