Evening star., 1924-08-10

Another of these thirty-two Send
ators was Robert La Toilette of Wis
consin, who is now being assaiIed
from many quarters because of his
action in launching a third party-i
deliberate attempt to upset the~
political organization of the country
and destroy the two-party system
| under which we have become the
greatest and most prosperous coun-s
try in the world. Critics OF Senator
La Toilette should find plenty of food
Ior renection in the fact that he was
returned to power by only 2s per
cent of the voters of his state"
DO you regard the emergence OF
third party in national politics as
definite evil?' I asked.
Two Parties Enough. -.
Il do" replied Mr.. Pierson en-
phatically. "Since the birth of our
nation we have had practically only
two great parties, and this system.
has always been an assurance of pub
lie stability. Blocs and cliques are
not political parties. and as soon asa
we depart from the two-party system
We are heading directly into the dis
astrous confusion that results from
splitting up our political groups into
number OF cliques. This inevitably
means that in contrast with politicata
parties representing national inter-
SoLe, lneSe OIOCS represent merely
groups of individuals who combine
more or less temporarily for groupI
or sectional advantage, and not in
support of any broad principle. When
We read of the politics of some Eu-is
ropean countries we are lost in a
maze of Conservatives, Liberals, Radi-
Gals. Ciericals, Anti-CIericals. Social
lists. Laborites, Rights, Lefts, Gem
trtsts, Anti-Semitics, Moderate So
cialists and heaven only knows what
besides. That is
| ministries in European countries are.
SO unstable and why parliamentary
life there consists largely of com
binations of discordant elements that
are united only by an itch for pub,
lie office. Such multiplicity of
blocs in any country is a standing
menace to public order"
rs 1t not true" 1 suggested. that
many Americans and especially
American business men feel that II
is useless for them to vote, because
candidates and political control are
invariably in the hands of a political
machine dominated by professional
politicians and in the operation of
which they have no voice."
Voting Not Enough.
That is no excuse whatever" re-
sponded Mr.. Pierson sharply. THE
duty of a citizen in democracy does
not consist merely in periodical visits
to the ballot box. If that is all he
does, he is shirker and is merely
acting as a rubber stamp for what
has already been done by some one
| else. We shall never have the kind
of government We ought to have untiIn
the average citizen is willing to sac
rifice part of his time and energy
to the cause of good government It
| is not merely his privilege but his
| duty to be member of his local po-.
liticdl organization. 10 attend its
meetings take an active part in its
actions and make himself a real voters
| in the selection of the man who shall
| represent him in public office This
applies peculiarly to the business
man who is a natural leader in hiss
community. Only when all citizens
take as keen an interest in govern
ment as the professional politician.
does shall we see real progress in the
conduct of our Government
The politician helps to select the
candidate. He votes for him on pri--
| mary day. He votes for him on cleo
| ton day. He does everything in his
power to make effective the kind of
government he wants. Should a good.
citizens do any less?"
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