The New York herald., 1921-01-28

because IL Is none of my business. This
is a free country, and. any two or more
people have a right to form any kind OF
a league that they wish, SO long, of
course. as they obey the law. But / do
think that there is no proper place for
a league of women voters, precisely
as should say that was no proper place
for league of men voters. And ! have
very firm conviction that any organiza-
tion which seeks to exert political power
is menace TO our institutions. unless
1t is organized as a political party.
"Our institutions are SO framed that
party government Is essential TO their
perpetuity.> and two party system, If
our representative system is to endure.
Is necessary. The fundamental theory
of our government is the rule of the ma
Jority. and only through political party
representing the majority or as near the
majority as that may be possible can
you secure an expression of the will of
the people. and. therefore, It is that
under our system o. government the two
party system is essential.
Now, or course, there have grown
up in this country number OF parties
other than the two great parties, and
so it might happen that one Of the great
parties successful at an election might
not necessarily represent majority.
and it has happened that minority
vote has elected a President. All we
can get in this world is an approxima-
ton, and so ! start with the premise
that the two party system or as near
ii as we can come to it Is essential for
the proper workings OF our institutions.
my next proposition is that If you
are to have the influence which you
ought to have you must do It through
the medium Of a political party.
II say that any body, not organized
as political party. which seeks to exert
political influence Is a menace. But
you have right In q democratic coun-
try under free institutions even to es-
tablish a political party to change the
form of your Government. If you do
1t in accordance with the methods pre-
scribed by the Constitution under
which we live, and you have a right
even to organize political party to
accomplish that purpose IL you propose
to do it in a legal manner. But when.
without being organized as political
party. any organization seeks to exert
poHtical influence. to coerce officials
either in the legislative or administra-
tive positions to their particular views
by intimidation or otherwise by prom
Use of support at the elections or by
threats. open or covert of opposition at
an election, such an Organization in my
judgment is menace to our free in
stitutions and to representative Gov
ernment.
"When you use the term social well
fare you imWediately arouse all that is
best in the natures of every man and
woman
"You were not non-partisan in the
last election when you sought TO exert
political power, and in my judgment the
signal failure of your effort to punish
an official because he had stood for
what he thought was right was one Of
the most hopeful signs that have seen
of the enduring nature of our institu
tions.
"Of the three statutes, or measures. l
should say which were labelled social
welfare in this State. the first was
health insurance law. That
was ADVOCATED. l believe, by your or
ganization. 1t certainly was advocated
by similar organizations. / believe there
is not such insistence upon it now as
there was. 1t was a proposal for the
State by setting up huge administra-
tive machine to undertake the business
of insuring the health of those engaged
in useful employments. And, of course,
If that were to be adopted right along
with it old age pensions and unemploy
ment insurance would be a logical and
a consistent development.
"These measures which you are in
terested in I hope will all come in time, /
but want to say TO you that we are
living In very practical world and |
when you consider the problem OF what /
will produce the greatest happiness TO
the greatest number. when YOU consider !
that the taxes in the state Of New York |
just for the maintenance Of the state |
government cost to-day for n family OF
five s65 and more you can see that there |
Is n weight of taxation bearing down
upon the shoulders of the people of this
from which they need to be re-
lieved IL you are to promote the greatest
happiness of the greatest number"