Evening star., 1932-07-08
Conservative Versus Progressive.

Conservative Versus Progressive.
The national campaign now in the
making will be fought out between the
Republicans and the Democrats with
out the interjection of any third and
independent ticket of such importance
as to swing the election one way or the
othe", unless the division in strength
between the two major parties on cleo
ton day should be of the hair-line
variety. One by one the threats Of in
dependent parties have fallen by the
wayside. The suggested bolt of West
ern Progressives, with the establish
ment Of another La Follette-Wheeler
party as in 1924. has come to nought.
Neither the vets nor the drys have
undertaken to place in the field sepa-
rate independent presidential tickets,
except the old Prohibition party, which
finally has nominated former Represent
ative Upshaw OF Georgia for President,
Unless all signs fail, however, the fol-
lowing Of Upshaw will be decidedly
negligible. Alfred E. Smith. defeated
candidate for the Democratic presi-
Dental nomination, has announced that
he has no Intention to bolt the Demo-
cratic party, although he has been
importuned by many supporters to
head an independent ticket. The field
is left, therefore, to the Republicans
and the Democrats; to President Hoover
and to Gov Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The lines of cleavage between the two
old parties is such, indeed, as to leave
an independent party without major
issue, except bone-dry prohibition, which
is the issue pre-empted by the Prohi-
bition party. Roosevelt and Garner
have been labeled progressives. even
radicals, and President Hoover and Vice
President Curtis bear the conservative
brand Roosevelt and Garner are out
for repeal of the eighteenth amendment
and are pledged by their party platform
to work for immediate modification Of
the Volstead act so as to permit the
manufacture and sale of light wines and
beer. Hoover and Curtis are committed
by the Republican platform tll submit
e proposal to the country for revision Of
the eighteenth amendment, so that
States which desire to sell liquor may
90 so under certain restrictions, one OF
which would bar the old saloon. The
ultra vets viii follow the Roosevelt
Garner ticket, the drys win incline to
Hoover and Curtis.
The division Of the country between
two political parties is far better for
the nlne=--un system Of government.
Multiple political parties make for many
blocS that stand for special interests of
cne kind or another. They threaten
orderly and efficient government and
make for political chaos. Two major
political parties should be large enough
and broad enough to care for the inter-
ests of the people as a whole.
The lines drawn between the Repub-
lican and Democratic national tickets
will necessarily bring about new afilia-
tions for old party members. There
are progressive Republicans who will
slide over to the D. ccratic camp.
There are conservative Democrats who
will never accept Roosevelt and Gar
ner. AS the campaign progresses
the division between progressive and
conservative is likely to become more
and more pronounced. The Democrats
have always claimed that theirs Is the
party of liberalism and progress. Four
years ago. however, the only issue be-
tween the two old parties was made by
Alfred E. Smith, who demanded repeal
of the eighteenth amendment, although
the Democratic platform was in
tended to be cry. On economic is
sues, even the tariff, there was
little to choose between the Demo-
cratic and the Republican tickets,
In 1924, when John w. Davis
able but conservative, was the Demo
cratic nominee for President, and
Calvin Coolidge was running against
him on the Republican ticket, the issue
of progressivism was carried by the La
Toilette Wheeler ticket Now the di-
vision between the two old parties has
returned to the days of 1896 and VIII
liam Jennings Bryan and William Nc
Kinley The country will determine
the choice of the next President &C
cording to whether the preponderant
sentiment is progressive and radical OF
conservative. Hard times are distinct
asset today Of the Democrats.