Milford chronicle., 1928-06-22
WHY CHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE
CAPACITY?

cratic parties. we nave TO cOnS1d
er then, whether the people VIII
naturally drift into the Republican
party are or are not naturally bet
ter managers of the public business
than those who naturally turn tn
Democratic way.
The Republican party was handel
by the election of 1926 what seemed
an almost impossible task. The!
were given a nominal control ovel
congress, but actually they had nj
real control. A large section of the
Republican party was entirely ou
of sympathy with the majority o.
the party. There were practically
three parties in congress. 1t look
ed as if this triangular situation
would so waste the time of the leg
islators by factional controversy
that practically nothing could be
accomplished.
And yet when we look over the
record of congress, we find some
very great measures passed. The
flood prevention legislation is pass
ed, the taxes are reduced, and the
merchant marine is given encour-
agement. Congress has done quite
as much work as usual.
No important agricultural relief
legislation was passed. The reason
for that was that the farmers of
different sections were not able to
agree. If they had presented a
united front in favor of any propo-
sition, nothing could have with
stood them.
The accomplishment of such i'm
portant results indicates that the
Republican party must have lot
of capacity for good management.
The men in charge of the govern
ment have had a wonderful gift for
business administration. They have
reduced taxes, saved expenses,
planned efficiency measures, and
the government never ran as
smoothly and economically before.
Why change?
@e@
THE POLITICAL PLATFORMS
Political platforms are often
looked at derisively, as pronounce
ments none too sincere, when poll
ticians adopt in order to win votes,
but without the intention of adher-
ing to them when they get into Of
ice. sInnumerable instances can be
'ound showing how successful can
lidates have failed to make good
IN the platform pledges of their
party when they obtain Office.
The platforms have way of COM
ng out very strong for the things
hat everyone believes in, and pus-
yfooting very gently on divisive
ssues on which people have strong
QlHefenC opinions.
However, the student of politics
,eeps a close watch on political
latforms, particularly those adopt
d by the national presidential con-
entions. They are a kind of
They show how the
lind is blowing. They represent
n estimate by skilled managers Of
overnment, of the kind of thing
nat the people want.
The politicians naturally feel that
ley have to formulate a winning
rogram. If they take up and adj
Ocate every forlorn hope, or ask
,r impossible propositions, they
ill scare conservative people, and
leir movement will not get far. Il
Nevertheless, the people look to H
leir leading politicians to show Il
lie way to better government. They i
'k them not to come dragging II
ong at the tail end of the process L
on, but to point out the way by Il
hich progress can be obtained. E
A political platform will there Is
re fail to please the people, if it L
mply repeats time-worn state Is
ents, and is content with the Is
eals of the past. It must be will Is
lg to take some risks in behalf Is
advanced ideas. 1t needs not Is
erely to be a safe and "stand is
Ithout hitching" kind of docu- is
ent, but rallying cry for that IS
eat mass of people who look with. Is
pc and faith for better govern Is
ent and social advance. is
So@ is