Evening star., 1934-08-27
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Again it is being argued that the
Democratic and Republican parties are
to disappear, give way to a new align
ment of voters clasSed as liberals and
conservatives, in which minded
electors will be more appropriately
grouped than under the present ar
rangement. The idea is not new.
Something of the kind has been pre-
dicted since before Bryan first ran
for President. Yet no actual change
is in sight. Revival of the discussion
at this time grows out of the great
amount of talk inspired by the launch
ing of the American Liberty League,
described as a Nationwide, nom
partisan organization to teach the
necessity of respect for the rights
of persons and property as funda-
mental to the success of any govern
ment. Even before announcement
of the new organization talk of a new
| two-party system along liberal and
conservative lines recently had been
heard, President Roosevelt was said
by some political analysts to favor
recasting of parties according to
a fashion being developed by his
administration. These analysts had
| pointed out that the President in his
public utterances never speaks of
| Democrats and Republicans, but al
ways of new dealers and old dealers
as though the proposed realignment
of voters already had taken place.
Friends of the President scoff at this
reasoning, term it sophistry. They
say Mr.. Roosevelt may change the
Democratic party, but not its name,
and will hold on to conservative DEM
ocratS while seeking to entice Re-
publican progressives into the Dem
! ocratic fold.
| X X X
Whatever else may happen, the
American Liberty League is certain
to loom large in the public prints
from now on. Jouett Shouse has a
flare for publicity, as demonstrated
by his dictatorship of the Democratic
National Committee and the Associa-
tion Opposed to the Prohibition
Amendment. A son of a Methodist
minister and former newspaper man,
Shouse has engaged in farming, bank
ing, law and politics. Born in Ken
lucky and reared in Missouri, he
called Kansas home until he came
to Washington in 1915. After two
terms in Congress he served as As
slStant Secretary of the Treasury in
the closing year of the Wilson regime.
Shouse's close association with Alfred
E. Smith, John w. Davis, the
Du Points and others with whom he
is now cooperating in efforts to de-
fend and preserve the Constitution
dates back to his selection by John
j. RaSkob to direct the affairs of
the Democratic party after the dis
astrouS defeat of 1928. In this lob.
as in his job of leading the fight
on prohibition. Shouse displayed out
standing organization ability. Under
his direction the American Liberty
League may be expected to make a
big noise and WELD large influence.
| \ X n y
Thomas r. Shipp, counsel of public
relations, was being driven to his
office when a cripple suddenly stepped
from the curbing directly in the path
of his automobile. The chauffeur, by
deft manipulation, avoided hitting
him. It wonder" Shipp commented
as they drove on, why a man already
permanently injured wouldn't be more
careful" Perhaps" suggested the
chauffeur. 'he didn't get any dam
ages the first time"
X X
Westchester County, N. Y, con-
tanning Hyde Park and the Roosevelt
estate where the President is spend
ing Summers closing weeks, supplies
an answer to what local communities
may do in the way of highway beauti-
fication. The principal thoroughfare
there occupies a 4Oo-foot right of
way, Handicapped on both sides and
protected by a law which prohibits
billboards within 300 feet. Some
$50, O,O00 was expended on this park
way, but its cost has been counter
balanced by increases in property
valuation for taxation purposes. Va
riouS commissions interested in high
way Identification have visited West
chester County to ascertain just how