The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-20

fuse to admit that party leadership
has broken down through any fault
of the chosen leaders. These leaders
have met condition with which II
has been all but impossible to deal.
1t was frankly admitted after the
election OF 1920 that danger lurked IN
the big majorities the republicans
would have in Congress. Political
history shows that big majorities In
evitably lead to groups and blocs
and that as result party discipline
is diminished IL not destroyed.
Blame Primary system
Some of the party leaders freely
charge that the present uhsatisfac-
tory situation in Congress is direct
~ traceable to the general primary
system. The American government
they say. Is a. government by party
and party government Is efficient
only when there Is party control Il
Is argued that government in a de-
mocraoy Is government not of In :
dividuals but of the majority. There
fore. they hold that when majority
OF the party in power votes for
certain line of action, the minority ir
the party should submit to the de-
cision reached and submerge itself.
The members of the Senate and
House "bloes" hold directly contrary
views. They contend they have a
right to attain their ends by any
means which the machinery of Con-
gress makes possible If they feel
that the ends can best be gained
by working with the democrats rath-
er than with the republican party, to
which they are accredited, they do
not hesitate to align themselves with
the party opposed to the administra-
ton. And II is just here that the re-
publican leaders are placing the
blame on the primaries. They claim
under this system a man can declare
himself republican or democrat, as
the case may be. for the purpose OF
election only. In other words, in
congressional district which Is nor
mally heavily republican, II Is as
serted that an Independent can con-
test for the nomination II he be so
disposed, In the republican primary,
and having gained the nomination, is
assured of election, despite the fact
that in the primary only a tenth of
the normal vote may have been cast.
This independent, when he reaches
Washington, is classified as a repub-
lican. but he remains an Independent,
and laughs at leadership, or attempt
ed party dictation.
Must Start At Polls
Some of the older heads in the re-
publican party declare that party
leadership Is effective only when
candidate for office feels sense of
obligation to the party--feels that he
was selected to run for office because
of his party loyalty and party service.
In brief. 1t Is held that party leader
ship must be consulted as to candi-
dates as we'll as to policies. Party
leadership must start at the polls and
not at the speakers desk. This Is
Impossible, under the primary sys-
TEN. And SO Representative Mondell
mother hen of the House of Repre-
sentatives, found on Thursday that
he had many strange Chicks" In his
brood. But whether or not the pri-
mary system is wholly or even
largely responsible for the woes of
the congressional leaders, there is no
doubt that II is bringing about new
condition In american politics. 1t has
led to greater independence of politi-
cal thought and action than at any
time since party lines were drawn
between republicans and democrats
more than half a century ago. One
development has been most impor-
tant. Carefully selected committees
no longer can dominate the Congress
Legislation is being determined more
and more upon the floor Of the SEN
ate and House and Is not accepted as
framed behind closed doors.
Many Deadlocks Likely
Unquestionably there is a new Or
der in the Congress. The session to
begin December may witness many
strange political phenomena. There
Is every reason to believe that the
old line republicans who believe so
implicitly in party loyalty and party
control, will resist to the bitter end
the exploits of the "blocs." Many
legislative .deadlocks may result
Every few years there is recur-
rent discussion of the possibilities of