The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-08
WHAT CONSTITUTES A PARTY
Grand Forks Heraldl

The general theory of party
government is that political
party is an organization of citi-
zens who have bond of union in
common beliefs and purposes in
matters of government. 1t is
neither essential nor possible that
all the members of party shall
think alike on all subjects. but if
the party is really what it pur-
ports to be it's members must be
in harmony on those principles
and policies which are held to he
basic. They must be agreed on
the main issues.
As party organization has de-
veloped there has been evolved
certain machinery by means of
which the sentiments and the will
Of the party may be crystalized,
ascertained and formulated. 1t is
manifestly impossible for all the
members of a great national party
to meet and discuss the issues
which interest them, and in lieu
Of that a representative method
has been devised. Sometimes
through series of conventions,
and sometimes by the direct vote
Of party members, delegates to 4
national jconvention are elected.
These delegates in the aggregate
represent the entire membership
of the party. and their decisions
are taken to represent the will Ut
the party itself. In pursuance of
this plan. which is followed where
ever the party system is known.
the Republicans or the United
States elected delegates to repre-
sent them at a national convention
held in Cleveland in June.
That convention. by a vote which
was almost unanimous. adopted Il
declaration of principles setting
forth the policy of the party on
what were regarded as the import
ant issues of the day, and nomi-
mated candidates for president and
vice president to be supported at
the coming election. The platform
there adopted is the platform of
the Republican party. The candi-
dates there nominated are it's can
didates. There are no others. The
party followed the only method
that exists of determining its atti-
tude on both platform and candt-
dates. and this is the result.
Any member of the party is
privileged to dissent from the de-
cisions thus recorded as to either
platform or candidates. He is
privileged to support the policy
and the candidates of any other
party, or to organize a party OF
his own which will represent his
views. But his dissent necessarily
sewers his relationship with the
Republican party. If. in the de-
velopment of local politics. he has
been placed on the Republican
ticket as a candidate for office, or
| if he holds position as local or
Estate committeeman, reason and
honor demand that he resign. He
is perfectly free. without crit
cism, to accept nomination or an
official position in the organiza-
ton of whatever other party meet S
his views on public affairs, but he
cannot rightfully continue rela-
tionship that is false on its face
The man who cannot support the
national candidates of the Repub.
lican party and subscribe in the
main to its platform cannot hon.
estly hold an official position III
the Republican party.
Many appear to confuse party
membership with citizenship. Cit.
izenship is permanent thing, in
to which many are born, and
which others assume as a lifetime
privilege and obligation. Men
may hold divergent views on a.
most every conceivable subject
and still be genuine and honorable
citizens. But party membership is
voluntary, and is based on the sim.
ilarity of opinion of members on
important subjects. If there is nc
similarity the party is a sham
The individual may change his
opinions. II his party does not
change likewise, he is out of step,
and it is his business to seek more
congenial surroundings. The par
ty itself may change, while the
individual remains steadfast
Nevertheless the individual is still
out of step with his party, and he
cannot honorably remain in it.
These plain considerations of
political honor are utterly ignored
by certain candidates who have
been officially chosen as candi-
dates of the Republican party in
this state. and by others who have
been elected to official positions
in the party organization. The
complications are due to the in
adequacy Of our election laws,
but men rightly constituted would
not seek to take advantage of
them.