Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-13
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.


Washington. D. c., June 10. - Are
both of our grand old parties about to
pass off the political scene?
The question is justified by the form
alton within the present Congress of
series of little groups, or blocs, each
of which represents a definite economic
interest, such as that of labor, the
farmers and the veterans of the World
war.
This is the form of organization
which prevails in most European Par
liaments. Under it. legislation Is
passed by a system of quidpro- quo
among the various groups. The labor
group agrees to support certain things
the farmers want in return for sup
port from the farmer bloc on certain
other measures. and so on.
Friends of this development in our
Congress say that it means the tardy
funeral of a party system which has
long been dead. They say that our
TWO parties have long since ceased to
stand for genuinely divergent inter-
ests. Their platforms, it is claimed.
have been made as non-committal as
possible, in order to get the support
of as many different groups as pos
sible, and have thus become almost
meaningless. Thus every platform.
Democratic and Republican, processes
the undying friendship of the party
for the farmer, but is not highly spe-
citic as to what it is going to give him.
He gets about the same, no matter
which party is elected. 1t is natural
therefore. that the farmers should or
ganlze to make their real needs known.
and that the Senators and Represen-
tatives who are willing to support
those needs should organize also. Here
is the beginning of series of parties
each of which will represent certain
real needs and desires of a real class
of men, in place of two parties, each
of which is held together only by habit
heredity and sentiment.
This innovation is viewed with alarm
by many legislators. who see their
whole machinery of party government
threatened.
Tic Old System
In the days when Uncle Joe" Can
non presided as Speaker. the direction
of legislation rested largely in the
hands of the speaker. He appointed
members of all committees, and even
designated who should be chairmen.
This system was overthrown and sue
ceeded by the rules which at present
govern the conduct of the house, and
legislation before it, in the famous
Cannon rules fight.
At this time. the legislative program
| is largely in the hands of a small body
of men known as the Steering COM
mittee'. No bill of any importance has
much chance unless it wins the ap-
proval of this committee. There the
course of legislation is mapped out,
and legislative tactics decided upon.
With the overwhelming Republican
majority elected last fall. 1t was gen.
orally supposed that everything would
be easy for the majority leaders in
the House and Senate. Now rocks
and reefs are beginning to loom ahead.
| placed there, not by the small Demo-
| of groups or blocs, made up OF mem
, bers of both the bi. parties, who are
| openly declaring their intention 10
| stand together on various questions.
A group is already in existence. num-
bcring in its ranks Members of tho
\ House and Senate alike. avowedly
holding together. regardless of party af-
| filiati representing labor in Con-
| gress. Recently was announced the
formation of farmer group or bloc,
| composed of 20 Senators and 100 Rep
resentatives all OF whom will place the
passage of what they consider need
/ full agricultural legislation above ali
other political and Legislative consid-
Grafton. Twenty-four cx-soldier MON
bers of the House many of them first
term members. have affiliated and de-
clsred war on the Regular army when
| ever that institution enters the leEis-
| lative lists.
There is also Pacific Coast group.
and a group pledging itself to placing
reclamation projects by irrigation
above party consideration and politi-
cal lines OF cleavage. Other groups
are formed or are in process of form
| alton.
Not only do the members OF these
groups pledge themselves to stand SOL