The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-10-24

times the real issues and fundamental
party principles were obscured. This
was true in both the Republican and
Democratic political contests.
Perhaps the World War with its
loosening of tradition fastened the de-
cay Of party responsibility and party
regularity. At any rate the condition
is here and the length Of its duration
will depend on future developments.
The United States Senate, as it has
been constituted for several years
past, is good example of the decline
of party responsibility. Supposedly
Republican in makeup, the margin be-
tween the so-called regular Republi-
cans and regular Democrats has gen
orally been so slight that the balance
of power has rested with group of
personally active senators upon whom
responsibilities of party rest very
lightly. Usually lining up with their
original party in broad national cam
paigns they have after the excitement
of the election has died down, sought
to combine themselves with whichever
faction in the Senate seemed destined
&c carry out their political wishes. And
the party leaders have done nothing
about it; perhaps they could do moth
ing. The senatorial appointments
have been distributed, according to
Senate custom, to regulars and irregu-
lars alike, whether these iregulars
were Republican or Democratic.
The present incident of the lobby in
vestigation at Washington and the
makeup of the subcommittee which is
investigating lobbying activities, is
case in point. In the early days, with
the Republican party in power staunch
Republicans would have had control of
this committee. With the Democrats
in control in the Senate, regular DEM
ocrats would have controlled it. The
subcommittee was appointed by Chair
man Norris, who himself is one of the
most active Of the so-celled indepen-
dent group. Senator Norris chose for
the committee as chairman Senator
Caraway, of Arkansas, author Of the
resolution and d staunch Democrat.
With Chairman Caraway are Senator
Walsh, another regular Democrat;
Senator Borah, independent Republic
can, and Senator Blaine, who can only
be classed as Republican by a wide
stretch of the imagination. Senator
Blaine, classed as an Independent Re
publican. favored Al Smith in the last
campaign and yet certainly is not a
Democrat. The only regular Republl-
can on the committee is Senator Ar
thur Robinson of Indiana, one of the
youngest solons of the Senate. The
citing of the example Of this commit
tee is no reflection on the inquisitorial
abilities of its membership. The eX-
ample merely illustrates the decline Of
political regularity in the United
States.
1t is not to be asserted that only
the so-called independents are finding
the ties of party regularity irksome.
Even some of the regulars have been
jumping the fence of late. A case in
point is the voting of certain other
wise staunch Democratic senators for
protective schedules in the tariff bill.
The principle of free trade can no
longer be used to hold Democratic sol
ons in line.
In conclusion, we may ask whittier
are we drifting and what will be the
result? The tendency in politics now
seems to be away from the primary
and back to a modified system.
Whether this will have the effect of
again strengthening party discipline
remains to be seen. Only the future
can give us the solution of this prob
lem.