The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-08-10
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TIL; ISSUE NOW FIXED.
Tho statement issued by Candidate Walton
Tuesday. reaffrming his adherence 10 the
Shawnee platform prepared by the rcconNruc-
tion league leaders and declaring his intention
60 carry out that platform II elected regardless
OF any other program which may be offered,
operates to fix the issue in the approaching
campaign beyond all expectation OF change.
The Shawnee platform Is tho Issue, Tho
world will present this platform 20 the people
of the state and will discuss It IN good faith
and In a conservative constructive way II i'm
medlatey becomes OF the greatest Importance
70 every citizen. However. that must wait until
n certified copy OF the document has been re-
oeved for there must be no room left for mis-
take. mlsquotauon or msintcrpretatlon.
In the meantime It is possible TO comment IN
other aspects OF this strange thing which has
taken place and is taking place before our eycs
II there IS indeed verify in tho seeming, then
major political party founded on constitutional
principles OF vast worth and vitality, has been
captured without struggle by system OF In
filtration and propaganda similar to that em-
ployed by Germany IN working the downfall or
the Russian governmental machinery.
And most amazing OF all, n conservative party
of construction has heen turned into revoln-
tlonary party OF destruction without serious
protest 80 far from any OF Its prominent lead
ers II is true that the democratic state convcn-
ton has not yet made the shawnee platform of
the observation-disclosures the indorsed principles OF
the democratic party but various county con-
ventions of the democratic pnrty have gone as
far IN that direction ms possible.
Thus we find tho democratic county conven-
ton CT Oklahoma county. within few hours
after the Walton statement had appeared In tho
press, not only accepting the reconstruction
league platform without murmur, but proclaim
ing that platform to be OF the very essence OF
JeffersonIan and Jncksonian democracy. II
that is true. ~ the Shawnee platform--the actual
provisions of which we await for the time be-
ing but which Is so generally known in outline
that actual details are unneoessary--is In faot
Jeffersonan and Jacksonan democracy, what
IS IL the democratic party has been practicing all
of the yghrs intervening between jefferson and
Walton?
While The World does not question tho right
of the reconstruction league or any other or
ganization or association 10 proclaim a code OF
governmental proposals and move openly for
their adoption. while It does not withhold its
admiration for the courage OF Candidate Wal
ton in speedily reaffirming his adherence to the
reconstruction code thus proclaimed. It does
dispute instantly tho assertion that there is a
single phase or atom or smell suspicion OF
traditional democracy in the Shawnee plat
form The one Is as completely the antlthesis
OF the other as orderly. conservative, consttu-
tlonai government Is the Rntthosts Of class
movements, direct action ana revolution. II may
be that the shawnee platform Is the better, but
It IL not democracy.
The question is will the democratic party OF
tho state swallow the dose prepared for It by
the reconstructlon league, and II It does will tho
democratic voters themselves accept the dish
prepared for them by the unholy alliance?
Part OF the interrogatlve proposition The
World feels privileged 20 answer. venturing the
belief that It is answering st correctly, There
4 are thousands OF democrats fully aware why
4 they adhere TO that political faith, who win not
accept revolution for democracy. The party
a chleftains themselves. the politicians who have
much at stake much TO hide much TO protect
. much 10 avoid, may willingly swallow the dose
prepared for them by the socialists the union
4 labor politicians and the radical farmer bloc
4 but the men and women OF this state who really
know what Jeffersonian and Jacksonian dcmoc-
K racy Is will not.
The contest Is no ordinary one. II is not
merely a contest between two political organ,
4 izations as 10 which shall secure the goyern-nl
4 mandate for an American commonwealth. It %
4 not merely contest between the constitutional
Il conservative John Fields and the radical. elias,
4 leader, Jack walton. 1t is In truth contest fol
the ownership and the control OF the demo
cratic party also. No argument Ia necessary tC
prove that the democratic party cannot perma
nenty exist half-radcal and half-conseryatiye
4 half-construcuve and half-dostructiye, half
democratic and half-socalist. Either 1t mus
4 be all one or all the other.
The World win be very much surprised i
there isn't speedy and organized moyomen
made by the genuine democrats of the state t.
reclaim their party and preserve It for futur
usefulness There is but one logical, safe wa!
OF accomplishing this that Is for the conserva
tive element OF the democratic party TO openl!