Imperial Valley press., 1924-05-12
POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY

POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY
Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska has Just
given out statement that he does not intend mere
after to align himself with the Republican party,
any other party. He declares it to be his purpose
to substitute personal responsibility for party respon
sibty. In other words, he will have individual ac-
ton take the place of group action IN the performance
of public service.
Senator Norris has for a longtime been one of the
socalled progressive independent bloc III the SEN
ate. Party fealty has rested more and more lghtly
upon him as the years have gone by. He is now serV-
ing his twentieth year in the two branches OF congress
He has just been nominated for third term as sena-
tor, receiving the largest majority at the primaries
of his whole When Chairman Weaver of the
Nebraska state Republican convention few days ago
mentioned Norris in his keynote address he cOmph-
mented him in general terms though he said he could
not always with him This latter reference eTok
ed vociferous applause from the delegates Coupling
the large majority at the primary with this action OF
the convention may have emboldened and determined
Mr. Norris his attitude of political lndepen
dence Though he is man of high honor 1t may still
be said that waiting till he had received party NOM
nation before severng his relations to that party was
not in strict accordance with his reputation Tor prop
ity The more consistent way would have been for
him to have issued his statement before the primaries
The Democrats of Nebraska have not named strong
candidate in opposition If the new situation
that has developed should thousands OF RepuD-
lcans desert Mr. Norris it is yet altogether prob
able he will be returned tor the third time co ms seat
in the senate
1t is an interesting coincidence that two days af
ter the senator had served notice that he will hereafter
be free lance President Coolidge discussed the same
point of political ethics eXpedency but taking the
opposite view The president was speaking to
bers of political campaign school conducted by the
League of Republican Women of the District of Column
bia.
at is necessary to have party organization if we
are to have effective and efficient government, the
President said, "The only difference between mob
and trained army is organization, and the only dlt-
ference between disorganized country ard that
has the advantage of wise and sound government is
fundamentally question of organization.
81 don't mean by that narrow and bigoted par
tsanshp but that recognizes the necessity to CO.
fXyp2 n
the result that we desire.
'.Men of the type of Lincoln and Grant, no less
than the type OF Cleveland and Wilson, have been loyal
10 their party and desired to have party support and
party government for the purpose OF giving an ettl-
cient administration
the better the in this unrelated but coincident
discussion CT the matter Men who think alike must
act together if they TO achieve anything. small
organized army always rout the mob, whatever
It's size Cooperative effort is the secret in all public
affairs. It is that the individual vino stands out
against his colleagues often gets reputation for hon
esty and independence that he would not get by argu
ing against them and then submitting to the will OF
the ajority when it became necessary Another more
brilliant but less substantial senator from Nebraska,
John NJ. Thurston, upon time coined an eplgram
when he said, Everybody knows more than anybody
R that same token the Republican party is bigger and
more enduring than Senator Norris who has deserted
it to become political party consisting solely of
himself.
Senator La Toilette with whom Mr.. Norris has
often worked, is perhaps the most conspicuous man in
public life today who repudiates party responsibility.
Yet if he or Mr.. Norris ever accomplish anything it
will be by cooperating through an independent party
But in doing that they will have wrought their end
through party association of like-mnded men;
and they will thus find themselves subjected to the
party responsibility they have rcpudiated. The soldier
who defects the ranks in the time Of battle and
captures a few straggers may get a little tenn
porary glory than the who marches shoulder to
shoulder with his comrades and helps them to win
smashing victory. But the will be won by the
organized army and not by the few who keep outside
the ranks. That is certain.
This subject is Of immediate interest to CaIifor-
mans Just now because Of speculation to what Sen
ator Hiram Johnson may may not do to retrieve
his political fortune.
THE OLDEST HORSE