The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-03-29
WHAT'S BETTER?
In ANOTHER column The Heral,

= publishes a letter from CORES
pondent, criticizing the republican
party, in which he lays blame for
most OF the III conditions that our
political flesh is heir to on the pres
ont leaders Of the party.
While he does not see II, we be-
lievc that he puts up a strong areu'
ment for the very thing that we ad.
vocate. He IL blaming. not the party.
or the principles OF the party, but
politicians, who through circum-
stances control the party.
We will not 20 to the length he
does and condemn all except a select
few rs utterly bad: but we hold that
when the people neglect their inter
csts in government. that government
naturally dcgenerates into the hands
Of politicians, instead Of being under
control of men carefully selected
for statesmenship.
II the men who direct the party to-
day--and this applies to any party
misrepresent the sentiment, and be-
tray the wishes Of the people. the re-
medy Is to get other men, and to
profit by experience and get better
men.
II there Is a better way to admin
lister the government OF this country
than by party division of course we
are for II. But to say. as does writer
In the current issue OF n magazine OF
large circulation that both leading
parties have outlived their usefulness
and should be scrapped-which. we
take II is what our correspondent ad'
vocates In the case OF the republican
party--merely points out a condition.
II does not advance a remedy.
There are issues as vital today as
ever was the tariff question. We. as
n party. cannot expect to stand skill
in the midst OF an ever-advancins
civilization. We doubtless need mod
ernizing. We are living In the past.
content to rely too much on past
glory.
Not that We should lose our rever.
ence for the glories OF the party
past. our high regard for the men
who have created our party heritage.
But II Is q fact that We cannot
live on the vicarious virtue Of the
past. II the republican party. or any
other organization. is TO survive II
must prove Its right to survival.
In the case Of the republican party.
the burden OF proof rests heavily. be-
cause 1t is the controlling party.
We have no hcsitancy In repeating
our belief in the grand old party. II
has stood the test Of many emergen-
cies. and will be equal TO any test
that may arise. or any issue. II its
rank and Sile will rouse themselves TO
their individual responsibility for It's
organised action.
We repeat again that we deplore
the present tendency to shirk individ'
uai responsibility. and to attempt the
impossible task OF delegating to any
cult. group. or coterie, political. Soc
ial. Industrial. religious. or what-not,
the responsibility for development Of
the individual conscience.
IT Is unfortunate that this ten
dency In the past has misguided US,
until today our government Is largely
In the hands OF blocs, bureaus and
cliques We present today the para
doxical spectacle OF a government OF
the people in theory. but from prac-
teal viewpoint q government more
bureaucratic than any existing mon.
archy.
But there Is no time for reform
that Is better than the present.
And. as a member OF the republi-
can party. we believe that this party
can, guided by the united intelligence
Of it's members. do better service
than any new agency that theorists
may conceive or experimentalists
create.
1t must take the highest degree OF
courage TO confront the evils that
have too long taken advantage OF our
negligence and are firmly intrenched
In places OF high political power.
II must take the highest degree of
intelligence to loose them from their
strategical vantage.
But It can be done. and II can best
be done through the organised tn
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