Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-08
MEMBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, November 8. 1920.

MonoAy, november b, 1S<V.
The Futiiity Of So. Called Non.Par
tisanship
A non partisan political party 10
the acme Of anomalies, especially In
country where pNty government -
the rule. and the only rule Of politi-
cal procedure. Party government IL
not provided for by the Constitution
but it is also not forbidden. and with
the exception Of George Washington,
every American president has been
elected through party machinery. In
general the same is true of all other
elective government officials.
Frequently so-called bipartisan
organizations have sprung up. either
in protest against abuses, real or al
legged, in the major parties, or in or
der to advance some particular issue
or idea. These organizations have
had some influence in the creation or
direction Of sentiment but when it
came to the actual question Of effec-
tive political action through the bal
lot. they have found 1t necessary to
vote for candidates OF the recognized
parties. The famous Non Partisan
League of the Northwest, which is in
reality an expression of applied So
cialism. has found that it's only eff
fective means of action is to capture
the organization of one or other Of
the regular political parties. In
some states the Republicans have
been swamped by the Leaguers and
in other states the Leasuers have
swallowed the Democratic organiza-
tions. The result is that the people
of the Northwest are made the tools
Of this organization, often against
their wills and their Judgment.
The confusion is apparent: Take
for instance a state where the Re-
publicans have been defeated by the
Non-Partisan League In the prima-
ries. The Republican voter has his
choice Of voting for the League can
didates or for the Democrats, but
wishes to vote for neither. Suppose
he does decide to vote for the Nom
Partisan candidate for senator, and
in the next state the submerged
Democrats also vote for Nom Parti-
san candidates: the result is a num-
Der OF senators who may not be de-
pended upon by either party, but who
represent principally one idea, and
that an idea which is not entirely in
keeping with American beliefs and
traditions.
The same tendency to confusion
and futility would be certain in any
nom partisan party composed solely
Of women. Women should vote as
citizens. not as women. attempting
TO differentiate themselves from men
voters. During all the years of the
suffrage fight the purpose was to
take sex out Of politics; a women's
party would most emphatically put
it in. and that is the thing to be de-
plored. There is no reason for 1t;
there are many reasons against It.
1t should be apparent that It 10 easier
and more economical to work
through ell-established organiza-
tions which already exist, like the
Democratic and the Republican par
ties than to found and build up other
new parties. Even though a women's
party should exist and become infiu-
entail, the regular parties would still
function. and again the result would
only be more uncertainty, confusion
and .futility Women who desire GER
tain things to be accomplished by the
vote stand far better chance of at
tanning their object If they will work
in and through either Of the parties
which are recognized. bringing their
influence to bear upon the voters al
ready organized, than II they at
tempt to be independent"