Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-07-25

what is to me one of the most sig
nificant bits of political news that
has come to my ears for many
months. The Democratic party had
employed Mr. Robert Goldsmith to
act for twelve months of the year
as director of political research for
the party. That is to say, the DEM
ocratic party Irrational committee)
is to have studious gentleman,
hampered by the whims Of con-
stituency, who, in addition to the
gathering Of Campaign material"
may act as sort Of intellectual
servant at large to Democratic SEN
aIors, representative and party
chiefs, unearthing for them authen-
tic information on the problems be-
fore the government, helping to put
ii basis of fact under all legislative
discussion, helping to forestall snap
judgments and to hamstring mere
prejudice and passion in debate.
This appointment of
research director for a political
rarity suggests the next great step
in American politics. If the Demo
cratic leaders will only see its full
ol2nificance and develop it! Now
Mr.. Goldsmith is catholic-minded
gentleman, with an almost uncanny
sensitiveness to sources of informa-
lion, but he should be surrounded by
q staff of research associates ana
gwen adequate funds for the organl-
cation OF the work on a comprehen-
sive scale. Then the Republican par
ty should follow suit by the organi-
cation of a research committee I'M
der a capable director.
Ii would require a senate and
house of supermen to deal intelll-
gently with all the problems that
confront our legislators, if each leg
islator were expected to unearth and
master for himself and by himself
the countless facts involved. Yet
that is what we are asking Of our
senators and representatives. we
elect to the senate or the house
man from some small inland town,
a man OF nominal educational quail
fications, man who has neither
read nor travelled widely, and
straightway ask him to pass judg-
nent for us upon the tangled and
technical problems of our industrial
ism, and to aid in drafting for us a
scheme of relatins with the rest of
the world which he has never seen
and of which he, perhaps, knows
rext to nothing. This Is not flip
pant fling at our representatives. or
almost any American in their place
the same might be said. A constant
ly changing body of elected repre-
sentatives cannot be expected to
have universal knowledge at their
fingertips. We must put back Of the
changing body Of representatives a
constant body OF researchers. The
researchers. will provide the facts
and tue representative will act up
on them.
We often wonder why it Is that
England comes out of almost every
conflict, military or diplomatic,
with flying colors. The reason does
not lie primarily with her premiers
and cabinet members, but with the
constant body Of men who give
their lives to the service of the gov
ernment. Secretaries of state for
foreign affairs may come and go in
England, but the foreign office goes
on forever. Many of the brightest
and best men from Englands uni
versities are attracted to permanent
service. These men become experts
in given fields. When crisis impend
il British politics, the statesman
can always touch the buzzer and
bring to his side the scholar who
supplies the facts in the case. This
constant body Of informed men is
SO vital factor in British politics
that it is almost true to say that the
elected members of the government
are the "showmen" of British poll
tics, while the sustained statesman
ship is supplied by the men in the
background.
Maybe we shall some day over
haul our civil service and achieve
of a like result, but in