New Britain herald., 1930-02-12
THE LIBERAL PARTY

suggested for the formation of d i Liberal party recently, can scarcely i succeed as political party. All the i cards m this country are stacked against the formation of third i party along the regulation political i lines. The amount of organization i necessary, and the necessity of penc- | tr&tnG 4S states with such organzd- i tons, forms an insurmountabic ob- 1 atacle. Theodore Roosevelt, with his i Progressive party, came the closest | 10 success of any other since the ] Republican and Democratic partic., i held sway; and in his case the en- | upon the leader When he quit. after failing 10 obtain the presidency ! again, the party disappeared also ! Such party, therefore, can be no , stronger than it's leader; and Colonel 1 Roosevelt, it must be admitted, in | his hcyday was as strong leader
 us any party could wish.
 i What q Liberal party, however is able 10 do now is not to be exactly | party, but an organization similar ] 10 the Anli-Saloon Lcaguc and it's
 affiliated organizations. The Anti ! Saloon League is no party, but l politicians know that it's influence ! IS profound, It's mode of action has
 been very simple It has concentrat- i cd its efforts to elect or defeat such men in the two major parties whom { it liked or 1islihcd In this way 1t
 has elected dry congresses Wash- ln2ton writers tell us that the average
 congressman fears the activities of i tine Anti Saloon Lcagu and afiihat- | cd organizations more than any other force in the background O. tue NdllOH , pOlltiISt anu IL Io H'it so many of our congressmen are officially dry while personally in
 clincd 10 be reasonably moist. So long as they are officially dry,
 however and vote dry when prohiDl ton questions come up for settle
 mcnt. inc Anti-Saioon League is
 perfectly satisfied. Thor votes in Congress i# the only thing that counts.
 Tine vets have mol yet learned this.
 They have been relying extensively upon propaganda Of various sorts, and while they have been attracting much attcHtiou in the nations press, Congress has been getting steadily Irie!. Lei some wet explain how IL wiUi cycr be possible to alleviate the rleors Of the Nolstca1 law or repeal ttna 18th Amendment without ron2rlss that is inclined 10 take
 such action rather than take orders
 rom inc Anti Saloon League. Such .an explanation is not forthcoming because it cannot stand the light ot ll4son.
 A Liberal party. if il IS 10 amount
 10 something, must folio" the tactics
 ol tine .Auti-,5aloon League and a1tIl- #tcd bodies. the only difference, Of
 course uling that it would operate on inc other side of the prohibition . cEcstion,
 . Suppos4 q Liberal party, well
 financed. as the embryonic 1Iocra! party ot present vnta2c is haid to 1 be. were 10 force congressman and
 -cnators into the open on the pro- . mbtion issue, making them take q stand for or against and yielding its
 support Or its opposition az the circumstances demanded This would
 be q sad state of alfars for poii-
 riclans who at present are able 10
 fool the vets and satisfy the Anti .
 Saloon League al the same time; Il
 would end the persistent straddllng of most congrcsslona asplrants; 1t
 would bring them into the open on an issue that % far they have been able 10 dodge Njth remarkable neat
 ncas
 l. l smIl wonder that the suG-
 sosjion ot 4 Liberal party Of this canber and following such methods : has shocked the politicians in Wash
 ingtou. most of whom 20 far ha}e
 h.cu very nillin2 to abide by the die
 ratcs or the powerful Anti-Haloon
 League while not being compelled to
 open their souls 10 the qucstIonings
 oe similar inquisitorial orsaniza-
 ton operated by the Liberals Of the
 country. As q third party they do not ] ear the Liberals; as an organization ! which will not be identified with any
 party. but favorinE it's friends and | fighting it's cncmcs, the personally,