The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-25

great liberal party which might con.
test with another organization such
as the conservatives, with the posi-.
e bility of coalition in case of great
= emergency.
Sketching the historical background
of the Republican and Democratic
lparties. he believes that the purposes
and ideals which called them into
being are rather shopworn and in
} effective in face Of the great emer-
gencies that now confront the repub-
} lie.
President Butler is in the main
right, despite the fact that creation
of new parties may be far distant
There is great discomfort throughout
the land at the apparent impotence
of both parties to function in the al
deviation of the present crisis.
The primary law, creation of blocs
and fusion of Republicans and Demo-
iSAoVo AL VIC AltClCoC VI tdI AL QOTk.
barrel legislation have broken down
completely effective party organiza-
ton. What is going on in Washing
ton is shining example Of all that
President Butler views with alarm
and CONSERVATION.
He makes the rather novel sugges-
ton that both national parties meet
in convention and appoint commit
tees to confer upon a program to
bring order out of present chaos.
After these committees, representing
both parties, deliberate, he would have
the national conventions reassemble
and shape program of effective po-
litical action.
Visionary as the plan may seem,
| it voices the convictions of millions.
Alfred E. Smith, in several recent adj
dresses, has struck out boldly in ar
raigning both his own and the op-
posing party for their ineffectiveness
and general political ineptitude. In
some political principles he has en-
dorsed President Hoover. Mr.. Smith
has openly challenged Franklin D.
Roosevelt. Mr.. Borah announces that
he will not even attend the Repub-
lican national convention, knowing
full we'll although he does not say
so. that both nominations and the
platform are practically settled now.
There are also the dissenters, Nye,
Norris, Frazier, Brookhart and others
to whom the party label is merely po-
litical necessity and expediency. They
do not intend to support on the hust-
ings President Hoover or what the
so-called conservative wing of the
Republican party represents. Their I
is chronic and will not be
healed by either promise of patronage
or other favors.
These are all straws in the wind.
There are many evidences of Demo-
cratic revolt. Senator Long of Lou
isiana berates Senator George of
Georgia for joining the high protec-
on products in which his
state is interested but refusing to &C
cord the same consideration to other
states which crave protection for s
their products. Then Senator Pat
Harrison of Mississippi points an ac- a..
cusing finger at Senator Long and
charges him with too close affilia- {
tons with certain Republicans. Thus
IS the political confusion twice con- !,
founded.
1t would seem that the parties both {
in the nation and in the several
states have degenerated into un- :
Hieldy organizations concerned most
With securing power and patronage.
Some writer's accuse the parties of
being bereft of souls and suffering :
also from mental atrophy.
The Butler address will stir up dis
'ussion. He is deep student of po-
itical affairs and knows the impor- ,
ant trends and cross currents of ma g
ional affairs. i
The average citizen has come to ex-
'ect too much of his government.
Expansion of government has sur
'ounded the citizen with many pater-
lalistic features which a few years
ago would be considered beyond the
.ield of government.
Log-rolling rather than statesman
ship rules the day. Party labels mean
little and there are no fixed political
principles. AS far as congressional
votes go, it is very hard these days to
distinguish a Republican from
Democrat. The voters don't care very
much about party labels either. That
vas shown in North Dakota last
March when $4,000 voters moved over
INTO the Democratic primaries Just
20 voice protest.
The times call loudly for a Moses,
both in national and state affairs.