The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-09
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

UNIVERSITY, Va, Aug. 9.-We
~ are discovering a lot that is
wrong with America down here at
the University of Virginia Insti-
tute of Public Affairs.
1t may be the spirit of jefferson,
or the heat, or this disconcerting
campaign in which Democrats are
coming out for Hoover and Repub-
licans for Smith, but for some rea-
son these usually safe and sane pro-
fessors and politicians are tearing >
through the old political sanctities
in most heretical fashion.
No one seems to fear the XII
Klux Khan and neutrality-suspicious.
in the surrounding Virginia hills, or
the red-hunting Department Of
Justice agents in Washington.
Right from the start practically
all the participants in the political
round tables and forums agreed that
there is no longer any essential diff
ference between the Republican and
Democratic parties; that it is the
two candidates rather than the par
ties that count.
From that we passed on to for
eign policy with the majority con-
demning the imperialism" of the
Wilson, Harding and Coolidge adj
ministrations. Only with great diff
Guilty were two or three persons
rounded up to say faint word of
praise for the State Department.
Il
TODAY we got back to domestic
Il troubles, and settled down to de-
bate the evils Of sectionalisn. That
proved rather touchy subject as it
turned out. Because these Demo-
Gratis and Republicans who are quite
ready to find fault with their own
parties develop much more sensi-
tiveness regarding faults of the
South, or the North, or NIiddlewest,
or wherever they happen to come
from.
Here, for instance, is Mrs. Sarah
Lee Fain, member of the Virginia
Legislature, who spoke on THE
Solid South" in the meeting on Sec
tionalism. According to the pro-
gram description Of speakers, "she
is noted not only for her splendid
record in the Legislature, but,
equally for. her beauty and popu-
larity."
Said Mrs. Fain: THE picture Har-
riet Beecher Stowe and other abo-
litionists painted of Negro cruelties
mostly were exaggerated and more
often than not had little if any basis
of truth. 1t was through the work
of the northern carpet Dagger, the
scalawag and other undesirables
that the solid South began to crys-
tallize"
After outlining present discrimi-
nations against the Negro, in the
South, she said: THE politicians in
the North theorize about a subject
they would solve differently if it
were their own.
"One is constrained to ask the
white northerner if he would find
pleasure in extending these civil
rights to the Negroes if the 100000
southern Negroes were in the North,
and the 100000 scattered through
out the North were in the South.
THE southern white not only I'M
derstands the Negro better than the
northern white, but is more honest
in his attitude toward him" No
Negro was present to represent that
race.
TINE northern speaker on Sec
Il tionalism, Ralph r. Lounsbury.
New York lawyer, was more critical
Of the South.
"The question seems a fair one,
whether the South itself has not
been in the past and is not now the
greatest sufferer from its sectional
ism" he said. BE that as it may.
would not a broader national vision
on its part-and I am thinking
mainly in political terms-be of i'm
measurable value to itself and to
the Nation2"
Lounsbury is much excited about
the sectionalism which dominates
other parts Of the country, as well.
NIT colors every national nomi-
nation and election, it is appealed to
In party platforms; exercises it's de-
teriorating influence in our laws.
1t debases the representative idea.
ana puts premium upon the max
ing OF political trades rather than
upon the merit of candidates and
measures.
The farm bloc in Congress has
supplied a conspicuous instance of
narrow sectionalism, supported bv
a system destructive alike to re-
Sponslole party Government and to
confidence in the breadth of view
OF a certain class Of representatives"
DUT DR.. A. r. Hatton North
= western University, points out
that the farm bloc is about the
only political entity we have that
means anything. 1t comes nearer
to the Burke definition of a politi-
cal party than Go either the Re-
publican or Democratic organiza-
lions, whose labels are deceptive.
covering many conflicting groups"
Naturally the commercial poiiti-
clans who want to win want to
straddle issues" admits Mrs. Emily
Newell Blair, chairman, Women's
National Democratic Club. Don't
blame the political parties for this
blame the American people.
Americans are not inclined individ-
ually to be independent thinkers.
We think in blocs-Rotarian blocs,
Kiwanis blocs, League Of Women
Voters blocs, church blocs, and, 1
almost said small tnrrrn lnlnce l,ntl