The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-23
is PARTY GOVERNMENT PASSING?

Is PARTY GOVERNMENT PASSING?
Thirty years ago It was nothing unusual to
hear a republican declare he had never
scratched his party ticket. or a democrat boast
OF similar fidelity to his party, Party morale
was high and party discipline extended not only
to offcehoders but to voters IN general. up
held by a siIh public sentiment Party soi-
darity was popular
Since the advent OF the primary election sys-
tom OF nominating candidates for public Of
flee the country has not only seen an increasing
weakening Of party ties and numerous revots
from party authority by ths voters, hut also
n natural result representation In tho house and
the senate Of different parts OF tho country by
senators ana congressman devoted first and
principally 10 certain sections and interests.
rather than to the welfare Of the union aa
whole. We have. to a very considerable extent,
cherished groups devoted to labor to aRrlcul-
ture. and to other classified interests regardless
OF all else. and often in economic conflict with
all other interests, and seeking through political
acts, unfair advantage over them
Is this "the first drawing referred to by
Washington In his farewell address of attempts
to ALLEVIATE portions OF our country from tho
rest" and to "enfeeble the sacred ties which now
link together the various parts?" asks the Chi
cago Journal OF Commerce.
However that may be, our national trend has
been more and more toward shift from the
representative form of government for
parties TO the methods Of n democracy-that is.
to the selection of candidates from United states
senator's down to county officials, by direct vote
Of the people, in pure democracy instead OF
by conventions composed OF selected representa-
tlves OF the people in republic
II occurs to the journal OF Commerce that Ia
this general change OF party methods. compelled
by law in most of the states is to he found the
root from which has developed the decay OF
party loyalty which plainly threatens to change
government from one or party 10 one OF
groups and "b,ocs," each loyal to certain IN
teress rather than to the general welfare Of tho
whole union,
Under the convention system of nominating
party candidates we had progressive selections
OF delegates from tho people to choose candl-
dates after careful counsel and comparisons
OF fitness. The people OF town
ship or ward se,ected delegates to
county convention, which In turn nominated
mon for county office and selected delegates to
represent the county in senatorial, congressional
and state conventions The higher the office.
the higher the grade OF Intelligence of those in
both parties who selected the candldates-and
we may fairly say, the better the candidates
selected. But under the primary election Hys-
tenn give in party affairs equal power to
the most ignorant and unfit voter with the
capable and intelligent citizen, Inevitably the
standards OF official represent tRtion have been
greatly lowered by this free play for prejudice.
passion and ignorance In a party's government
Demngogues could wish better system on
which to ride to power and continue in power
with the convention system had the in
spiration and cohesive power OF frequent state
nents OF party principles and purpose-from the
people up. We had true party fellowship, re-
unions of devoted party men in every township
ward. county and district in the country, anf
public demonstrations OF fidelity 20 the general
public welfare They counted enormously in the
preservation OF intelligent party action and
morale. Those fine political influences are alb
solutely lost TO both parties under the primary
election system. Democrats and republicans 20
on masse to the primaries now with neither
enthusiasm nor inspiration, thinking only Of
men and not OF principles, as n rule.
n party government shall decay. and con-
gress detcrlofate into collection OF selfish
groups we may see the beginning OF the dis
aster in the primary election system.