Evening star., 1924-06-01
Democracy Must Find Test
OF Office-Seeker's Fitness
THOMAS n. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President of the UniteA
States.

THOMAS II. MARSHALL,
Former Vice President of the Unite6
states.
The enlarged and growing oppor-
tnnities OF the American are produc-
ing some strange ideas about democ-
racy. 1t is not enough any longer
that a people may be free; that there
Shall be equal rights for all and spe-
| cial privileges for none; that every
man and woman shall have a right to
vote and take a hand In the selection
of public officials. These principles
which were established after years of
waiting are now regarded as common
place. Out of our hazy conception of
democracy has come an idea that each
one of us must have the right to run
for any office we would like to hold.
If we are to enjoy the full privileges
OF citizen of a republic.
This would not be so bad IL it were
not for the belief of many persons
that a right imposes an obligation.
True. obligations often do follow
rights. but the right to run for Office
does not carry with it any duty to
run. ] am rather disposed to believe
that the right to run for Office i'm
poses upon most Of US the duty of not
running, If II imposes any duty at all.
Otherwise the constant appeal to the
people to take charge of their own
affairs will produce a national situa-
ton not unlike our local situations,
in which we are called on to make
selections for Offices from a multitude
of unknown candidates.
The loosening Of party ties and the
formation of factions and blocs with
in parties ultimately may have a
blighting effect on representative
government Even now we are be-
ginning to speculate on what may
follow the next general election. OBJ
servers of events are saying they will
not be surprised IL the people fail to
select a President and a Vice Presi-
dent in November. This would mean,
of course, that the election of the
next President would be thrown into
the House of Representatives. That
possibility, which many regard as a
probability, threatens the established
right of a people to select their off,
cials.
Politicians foresee a third party
in the field If the nominees of the
regular party conventions are not
satisfactory to the blocs within the
old parties. Looking forward to the
meeting of the electoral college after
the election. they visualize deadlock
produced by the inability of any one
of the three candidates for President
to obtain majority.
* +
1t is apparent that the present
House of Representatives., divided al
most equally between the two major
parties. and the balance of power be-
ing held by a small group which owes
allegiance to no party, would not be
able to elect President; and 1t is
almost apparent that the Senate could
not elect a Vice Presidents if called
on to do SO, unless 1t entered into a
compromise with certain disgruntled
members who have a habit of block
ing action if prevented from having
their own way. Thus arises the con-
tingency whereby the American peo-
pie may be deprived of the right of
free expression as to who shall be
President and Vice President of the
United States. 1t arises, / may say,
as a result of the striving of Ameri-
cans to get away, as a matter OF