The Washington times., 1922-04-02

proved the Democratic party to be
a minority, and a moribund minor
ity at that. All there is to a polit
ical party Is the adherencse OF
number of the people to that
party's profession OF principles,
and a political party ceases to be
party and becomes peg when
II cannot retain it's membership
at a vital time. Nominal Demo
Gratis by tens OF thousands voted
for Harding. No party ties were
strong enough to hold them. With
out doubt, unless there is a new
party alignment and IL our major
political operations continue under
these moldy labels nominal Repub-
licans by tens OF thousands will
vote against Harding in 1924.
TWO RELICS ONLY.
This is bound to happen in our
present political situation. In
stead of two great parties. each
standing definitely and firmly for
certain sets of political and gov
ernmental principles. we have
two relics of great parties that
stood thus firmly and definitely
In past times, but are now mere
political instruments, mere pegs
on which the people hang what
ever protest they have TO make.
flocking from one TO the other
as elections come. and voting
under whichever symbol means
electment for those in power, not
with any thought OF consideration
OF what governmental, political
or administrative policy that sym
Dol designates In a party way,
but simply with the idea of turn
ing one set of officeholders out
and turning another set OF office
holders in In the hope that things
may get better, and with the con-
viction that they couldn't be
worse.
On the one side are the shredded
remnants Of the Republican party
and on the other the desolated
debris OF the Democratic party,
and neither has a legitimate, pres
ent-day. vital, concrete claim on
the suffrages of the people. They
are OF the past. Their claims are
historical, not current. Moreover.
sharply as they have differed I'm
the past. both as to policies and
performances, they differ now
only I'm labels. The white label
on the green bottle signifies Re
publicanism. The green label on
the white bottle signifies Democ-
racy. And there is nothing in
one bottle that is not in the
other. and not much in either.
BIG ISSUES WANTING.
There are no outstanding issues
between them. With the Republic
an party in power Republicanisin
means nothing but Republican OPP
portunism in administration, and
with the Democrats in power DE.
mocracy means Democratic oppor-
tunism. The majority proposes
and the minority opposes, not be-
cause of any principle involved,
but because the proposition haV-
ing been made by one side Is fought
by the other. Both sides trim sails
constantly TO whatever popular
breeze may be blowing, and both
sides respond instantly and obss.
quiously to whatever organized de.
mand may be made.
There you have the nubbin of It.
both from the outside and the in
side - organization. When the
great political parties, which by the
theory OF our Government should
be the paramount organizations
existing under that Government,
began to decline and lose authority
and power and respect because OF
the inefficiencies Of the politicians
and their lack of appreciation OF
the meanings of events and the
currents of popular thought, Ger.
tain OF the people finding that no
good could be obtained through
action Of these political parti,s,
tried the expedient of action OH
them.
Knowing that all politicians are
towards, that all politics is com.
promise and conciliation, and that
all government in a party-governed
country has for it's first aim and
end retention of power by the ma
jority-knowing these things and
that political power is obtained
and retained solely by votes, these
certain people hit upon the plan of
influencing government as they de-
sired 1t to be influenced by max.
ing demands on those in authority
and backing those demands by
threats of the use of their organ
lied voting power against those
In authority unless their demands
were granted.
PEOPLE BAD THIRD.
The individual comes first ia
party politics, the party second,
and the people a bad third. When
we had courageous individuals in
politics we hal a semblance Of
party courage, but the courage OF
the individual did not stand up
under this organized pressure,
which, sporadic and casual at first.
became calculated and scientific;
and right there you have one Of
the principal causes of the decay
In our party systems, and right
now you have one of the principal
results of II IN the existing and
anomalous political situation in
which this country Ia today.
The liability In a double one. II
rests upon the politicians who have
copitulated TO the demands OF or
ganized pressure. and on the or