The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-15
Leaderless Reorganization
(New York Times)

A kind Of voluntary post-mortem
began to be held by Republican
spokesman directly after Tuesdays
election. They do not agree in ex-
planning the causes OF death, but
nearly all OF them coincide in argu-
ing that the party cannot hope for
a new life unless it is promptly re-
organized. This is the verdict Of
Chairman Fletcher of the National
Republican committee, and his ad-
vice to the Republicans is that
they should admit that they were
badly licked. and at once set about
reorganizing. The same blessed
word" fell from the lips Of Senator
Borah in Chicago yesterday. He de-
c!ared that the Republican party
must "reorganize or die" Under what
leaders should the work be done?
The Idaho Senator had only vague
suggestions, being explicit on the one
point: Il shall not assume leader
Ship" In this there Is a certain re-
assurance. If Mr.. Borah were sud-
denly elevated to the position of Re-
publican leader, Senator Borah would
soon be found attacking himself. Yet
he admits that some one must be
leader and cautiously suggests Sen
ator Vandenberg Of Michigan, who
was saved, or reelected. on Tuesday.
yet 50 as by fiat.
Without q national leadership Re-
publican reorganization will natur-
ally be undertaken firss by state or
local chieftians. That does not always
work well. We had an example of it
here IN New York a month before
the election. There was a distinct
demand that there be reorganiza-
ton OF the Republican machine,
mainly for the purpose OF getting rid
OF Chairman Macy. In that respect
the reorganizers, persistently called
the Old Guard, whether they de-
served to b. or not, were brilliantly
successful. They got rio Of Mr.. Macy.
But at the same time they got rid Of
their majority In the Assembly at
Albany. and got rid OF their candi-
date for governor under the unpre-
cedented and crushing majority OF
Governor Lehman. Thus it appears
that reorganization may sometimes
make q bad matter worse.
That Is not, Of course the kind of
reorganization which national
minded men like Chairman Fletcher
and Senator Borah mean. They are
plainly thinking Of plans and policies
more than Of individuals. Let there
be something like consensus Of opin-
lon animating and reviving party
members throughout the country, and
the question Of leadership may be
left to take care of itself later.
One obvious reason for the Repub.
lican rout on Tuesday was that thu
party candidates did not think alike
o. speak alike. They advanced views
often contradictory, as II on thu
theory that every one was at libert,
t. do what seemed right in his owr
eyes. But there must be an approx.
nation to unifying principles ane
purposes before the Republicans car
face the next presidential election
with even tie glimmer OF hope. Thai
process Of reconstruction may 60 OF
during the next session Of congress
and through various means Of edu
eating and solidifying sentiment IL
the cities and states. II by sucl
means and others a standard can b'
raised, Q man will be found to Mf
1t full high before the rank and file
The first labors Of the reorganizer
must be directed toward clarifying
the doctrines Of the party. Late
may begin the search for exponent
and leaders.