Evening star., 1921-07-03
How Interests Dominate Politics

are SO busy in considering, not
what is the common veal. but the
individual good that we have ac-
quired, a hodge-podge of conduct.
and it is doubtful whether out Of
1t we could get a consistent set of
principles. New England wants
the protective tariff on manufac-
tured articles. but SHES at pro-
lection on raw materials. Louisiana
must have something done. legis-
latively. for sugar. Texas and
Arizona are splitting" cotton.
Every mans business is the axis
around which all Legislation should
revolve.
y \ X \
One of the foolish ideas of poll
ticians is that they can meet in
convention and solemnly declare
what the people shall think about.
This is utterly impossible. The
people will think primarily Of those
things which affect them the most.
After these have received due con-
sheraton they may be induced to
consider Ctner questions. 1t is use
less to present in q political CAM
paign questions about which tho
people know nothing. and care less.
Those who are interested in fixed
principles Of government and who are
convinced that contending interests
striving for mastery will result only
in confused legislation should occupy
the time between campaigns in
educating the voters along the line
of principle. II would be interest
ing to get an honest statement as
to how many voters in America
read the different party platforms
in the last campaign. Such state
ment probably would shock those
who believe that the American
people give thoughtful considera-
tion to the issues involved in the
proposed policies Of the several
parties.
Unless and until political parties
announce few general principles
and honestly pledge themselves to
measure every proposition by the
principles set forth in their plat
forms regardless of the effect upon
individuals C: groups of Irdivid-
uals we may expect continuance
of present conditions. if ind".l
they do not grow worse. l have
such an abiding faith in the will
ingness OF the individual Ameri
can to undergo personal prlvat'on
in order to promote the general
good that I should like to see
fair and complete trial of brief
statement Of principles-a trial by
keeping avowed principles regard
less Of their effect upon individ
uals and groups. The signs are not
hopeful. however, for such a con-
summation.
X X X
United States senators from ten
or twelve states which are largely
agricultural have banded them
selves together without regard to
the party label which they are
supposed to wear into a sort OF a
non-partisan league. They are
saying: What is democracy TO Us?
What do We care for republican
ism? Our people are farmers. For
years they have been forgotten in
legislative halls. We propose now
to do something for them. We are
O going to devote ourselves tc a
program of legislation which will
be of primary benefit to them"
This. of course. is calculated 20
produce special legislation for a
class. The rest of us will be told
that whatever. benefits the farm
iS the. basis Of all national pros
perity-
A smaller number of senators
have Joined themselves together
to fight what is called the ''yel-
low peril" There is a bloc" of
senator's interested in irrigation
and reclamations. and yet another
of political affiliations. believe that
the sales tax is the immediate
matter of greatest moment.
Glorious democracy. An agra
rian party. an irrigation party.
a labor party. prohibitive
tariff party. a prohibition party.
an anti-Japanese party-every fell
low for himself and may his sa-
tanic majesty get the. hindmost.
Equal and exact justice to all men
and special privileges to none have
become passe in America. You
scratch my back and I'll scratch
yours" is the modern slogan.
X X X
Yet there are those in the Con-
gress who are sufficiently wise to
foresee the dangers to arise from
special privileges. They know
there IL a great body of Americans
who are not satisfied. and they are
apprehensive that the medicine
will not cure the disease. So they
propose to make the President the
goat He is to add to or to take
from these special privileges as
he may happen to think the times
and facts warrant. Contracts
made with reference to the tax
laws Of today may tomorrow be
changed by presidential proclama-
ton. If the change suits the coun-
try, we'll and good. II it does not.
the President was to blame.
Copyright. 1921, by Thomas R. Marshall.)