Montgomery County sentinel., 1931-04-17
Chairman Shouse Defines Democ.
racy And Tells What The
Democratic Party
Stands FOR.

Speaking on the subject of What Is
Democracy 7" in & recent radio address,
Jouett Shouse, Chairman of the Democratic
National Executive Committee. answered
the question as follows:
ut is not q mere theory or state of mind.
q demsaogic attack upon business nor a
servi fawnins to any group however rich
or powerful. II is essentially form Of
government in which power is retained by
the people. and exercised by them through
their duly selected agencies. Its very foun-
dation stone is the right Of the majority
TO rule. 1t does not cringe to organized
minorities nor listen TO the voice Of mere
expediency."
Chairman Shouse quoted definition by
Woodrow Wilson. which is in part as fol-
lows:
Democracy is an energy Of life dwell
ine in the rank and file. interpreted once
and again by great leaders but not con-
fined TO their private cult and understand
inc. Its blood is the blood Of the people.
Its purposes are the purposes shared by
all mankind. Its hopes are the hopes Of
all rational civilization. 1t Is above all
others q young mans party because a
party Of movement. Of readjustment.
He cited Jefferson's statement Of the
difference between the two parties: The
one (Oemocratic) desires to preserve an
entire independence Of the Executive and
Legislative on each other and the depend
ence Of both on the same source-the free
eIection Of the people. The other party
wishes to lessen the dependence Of the
Executive and Of one branch OF the Leeis-
ture on the people.
Chairman Shouse pictured central
eroup-the great mass of the people
standing between the right and the left
wings Of the Republican party. which
recognizes the Grass selfishness Of the one
and the impractical idealisn. Of the other.
The vast center, Chairman Shouse said,
believes in the rights of private property.
in the encouragement Of individual initia-
tive. II believes in the tenets that have
made this nation great and strong
Il tries to follow the course that seems
clearly charted with a definite goal in
view-honest return for honest labor. the
right to life. liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness. II does not seek spe-
cial privilege. and therefore it has not the
incentive Of improper reward To make il
vocal. II does not believe in the theories
of beautiful but misunderstood radicalism
and therefore il lacks the spirit OF the
zealOt 10 interpret its aims. II is simply
q great incoherent mass of patriotic Amer
ican men and women seeking 10 do their
simple daily duty by their country and
their God. In my Judgment, il Is this CEN
ter for which the Democratic party stands
and Of which il is representative"
Chairman Shouss: applied these princi-
pies TO present day conditions and issues ;
to unemployment the Hoover Grundy tariff
bill; the loss in foreign trade, resulting
largely therefrom and declared that "the
violation of the principles Of Democracy
during three Republican administrations
had much TO do with bringing on the
plight in which we find ourselves.
Does any one OF my hearers believe"
he asked in conclusion. that II in places
Of leadership had been men inspired by
Jefferson and what he preached the record
Of the past year and a-half would have
been so sterile I"