Evening star., 1925-07-20

Various kinds of comment have fol-
lowed the expressions of antagonism
to party government voiced by Senator
Norris of Nebra ska in refusing to ac-
cept the leadership of a third party as
La Follette's successor.
According to the Newark Evening
News. the Senator was Influenced by
his feeling there is altogether too
much partisanship for the country's s
good and what there is is too bind
ing" and with this view the News eX-
presses agreement in part, remarking
that Party loyalty has been, and is,
too much of a fetish and It is too
much played upon for the self-perpetu.
alton of men In Office and for the ele-
vation Of self seekers"
But the Louisville Post thinks there
was another reason. Senator Norris
knows" says this paper, that ''it takes
more than designation to make a, man
a leader. He must grow into that
position. Leadership thrusts itself on
the man born to lead. The Senator
will continue to be free lance under
a Republican label"
X
The Lincoln, Nebr., Star does, not
find in Senator Norris the tastes or
qualities for leadership either of a
party or of a bloc in the Senate, and
claims that 'it is not surprising that
Senator Norris should disavow any in
tention of assuming leadership of the
progressive forces of America. Leader
ship involves certain responsibilities
which Mr.. Norris would not care 10
assume" Continuing, The Star states
that ito speak for a certain group or
faction in Congress involves the sacri-
flee of some personal views. 1t calls
for compromise and conciliation and
bargaining IL practical results are to
be achieved. Senator Norris is IN
tolerant, uncompromising and suspi-
cious.''
when the rest of the country
comes to know George w. Norris bet
ter 1t will understand that, regardless
of occasional bursts of petulance or
heroics, he will never desert the grand
old party from which cometh his
strength" declares the Omaha Eve
ming d-Herald, and the New York
Times, writing in similar vein, de-
scribes Senator Norris as remaining
true to the great Norris movement:
Hold Republican principles; get
elected and reelected by Republican
votes, and from the peak OF your
moral mountain look down upon the
unenlightened partisan plainsmen. Re
publican, Democratic and Progress
Sive."
The reason Mr.. Norris 'is content
to remain Progressive within a
conventonally conservative party" in
the opinion of the New York World,
is that "he believes, for one thing, that
1t is easier to be elected and easier to
accomplish more for progressivism
inside major party. His record is
strong evidence he is right" continues
the World; "he believes, for another
thing, that a lukewarm party loyalty,
different from the fierce, eager parti-
sanship required for the organization
of a new party. leaves him free man
to choose his issues and his candidates
where and as and how he wishes"
The Senator's plea for non.partisan.
ship brings a retort from the Spring
field, Mass, Union to the effect that
"even Senator Norris carefully avoids
non-partisanship when he is seeking
his own nomination and election. He
is very careful to be known as a Re-
publican for that purpose; just as
careful as he is to denounce Republic
an policies after he is safely elected 81
v X
On the other hand, the Brooklyn
Eagle contends that Morris is con
] sisteat With himself. lie has KsQeat