Evening star., 1930-12-07
ABOVE PARTY
is ADVOCATED BY LEWIS
Illinois Senator-EIect Says Political Is
sues Should Be Settled Strictly
on Their Merits.

where the proposition carries on ~
fc e a violation of the Constitution or
clear injury to the populace at large,
and one that Is against the welfare oe
the Republic.
But merely because one may differ a.
to how the proposition would operate
economically or opposes the political
benefit which could accrue to q politi-
cal administration from the execution
Of the proposition, or because the oppo-
sition may come from a theory oppoG-
ing the theory which brings forth tina
proposition-none Of these justify the
obstruction to the President and the
defeat of his platform issue going into
effect after his election.
This must ever be remembered: n
we are to carry on this Republic TO the
full objects and purposes of its creation,
where the people have directed certain
policies be put into effect, this is a con-
tract by the people with all public serv-
ants who have to do with execution or
enforcement OF such policies. Il Is the
duty of such public servants to help
execute and administer those policies
which the people have voted the Presis
dent to carry out-pot because they
come from the President as head Of his
party. but because they come from those
directed by the people to put them forth.
Difference Is Economic.
The difference now in the two great
political parties Is only economic.
| These do not partake Of any phase
where either can be accused of a want
of patriotism or lack of loyalty to either
Government or citizenship In the adop.
ton and the advancement of the doc
trines or policies Of the other party.
On the other hand, wherever those poll
ctes as profesSed carry with them prom
ises of some relief to the people from
conditions against which the people pro-
test, this should be seized promptly by
the leaders of the parties and forwarded
to successful triumph, and the Presi-
dent given every support in carrying out
tnese measures where they are In pur-
suit of his promise.
The public servants owe this TO the
| people and to the President.
Two reasons are apparent. One IA
that as public servants they owe IL TO
the public in order to give them the best
chance to secure what they seek. The
other is that to obstruct the President
IN carrying out policies and then to
charge him with failure to execute them
Is a form Of hypocrisy, trickery ana
deceit.
Such is not statesmanship or SPORTS
manship but is a low order of political
revenge that takes on the form Of an
clent br1gandage. r.
President Given Chance.
Whoever Is President has the right 10
the opportunity Of fully initiating and
completing the steps necessary for 4
trial OF the policy on which he has been
chosen and which the people have adopt-
ed under the theory and belief Of its
beneficial effects.
The public has right TO insist that
the servant shall do this In order TO
give them the fulfllment Of the hona
reposed in him when they elected hin
President on those measures.
The public servants opposing the
President owe this to themselves In or
der that when the measures have been
tried. should they. prove beneficial, the
opposite party can go to the country
claiming credit on the theory Of aiding
and ask for themselves just recognition
and proportion Of reward.
On the other hand, should the meas
! ure disclose no virtue and complete un.
fitness and impracticability, the oppo-
site party can point to its effort in help
Ing bring about the fullest trial. From
this 1t cannot be charged that the meas
ure failed from any cause through OBJ
struction by the opposition. The oppo-
sition can show how It had made every
effort to see that the measure had been
given fullest opportunity TO demonstrate
| itself.
Must Avoid Pitfalls.
This fact alone will justify q public
conclusion of lack of virtue within the
measure and make the public the more
ready to desert the old and turn to the
new.
We have reached the hour when free
government must avoid the pitfalls into
which now are sinking manv new cov-
ernmentS of the world. We must evade
the obstruction against which old gov
ernments of the world are cracking and
shattering their existence.
III the United States we should adopt
as our whole maxim of service to the
people that in all measures Of proposed
relief the liberty of the person and JUS
tice to government there must be tho
fullest support by patriotism and orro-
sition by the least Of partyism.
(Copyrisht, 1900