Evening star., 1934-12-09
NEW PARTY SEEN IF C.. o. p.
old GUARD KEEPS HOLD
Conservative Group With Progressive
Leader Needed to Save G. o. p,
Nicholas Roosevelt Says.

lack of political experience he got
off to a good start. He SenSed the
wants of the voters better than the
Old Guard clement, but with the pas
sage of time ami the increasing diff
Guilty of his task, he developed a
capacity for disagreeing with every
one who viewed things differently
than he did From this he progressed
to quarreling with his assistants and
subordinates until he so disorganized
the party that leaders Of all kinds
realized that until he was ousted
there was no hope for the Republicans
in New York State.
Unfortunately, the group that
brought about his ousting played into
his hands by a tactical blunder that
permitted his associates and the Dem
ocrats to pin the Old Guard label
on them.
The statement that announced the
formation of their committee was
signed by Bert Smell, George Fearon
and Joe McGinnies-the three names
in the Republican organization most
closely identified in the public mind
with all that was most unpopular and
reactionary The result was a fore
gone conclusion. Mr.. Macy, who,
though wrong in his tactics, correctly
sensed public opinion knew that these
three leaders and numerous other
members of the committee represented
all that the average Republican voter
most resented He attacked them
violently-so violently that he not only
wrecked the party but made his own
defeat as party chairman inevitable
by turning against himself moderate
men who were incensed at the in
temperance of his attack.
But why dig up old history? The
so-called Dawson Committee, with
the best of good intentions and sin
cerely anxious to revive the party,
failed. In fact, the party has never
undergone such a complete defeat in
New York State What next?
One thing seems certain-that so
long as the present leaders remain
in control the Republican machine
may be able to bring out diminish
ing body of voters in the hopeless
task of trying to prevent the defeat
of their candidates, but they will not
capture the imagination and loyalty
of the great mass of independent
voters. without whose cooperation the
Republican party cannot win. People
want new faces new names, new
ideas. A clean sweep is called for,
sweeping the reactionary element out
of the control of the party as well as
those misguided liberals" who have
done so much to wreck the Repub-
lican organization in the last few
years.
Change in Michigan.
This sounds Ikea big order. In
Michigan, however, under the i'm
petuS Of Senator Vandenberg, every
county leader in the Republican party
was changed during the last two
years. for the very reason that Mr.
Vandenberg and his associates real
lied that there also the feeling was
strong in favor of getting rid of
the old leaders. This doubtless
worked hardship on many loyal party
workers. In New York State such
procedure would probably be i'm
possible to carry out owing to the
tenacity Of many of the leaders.
Unfortunately these gentlemen have
not only refused to heeo the warn
ings of intelligent observers in the
last year or more, but they are clos
ing their eyes deliberate to the les
son of the last election. They are
convinced that what they should do
is to stand pat They resent all sug-
geStionS that there be changes in the
leadership. They are determined not
to relinquiSh any of their power or
patronage. They are prepared to re-
tain their hold on the wreck of the
party, even If in the process they pre-
vent the party from recovering either
in the State or in the Nation.
How to handle such a situation,
in view of the traditional inertia of
the average voter and in view of the
fact that organization leaders can be
successfully beaten only by other and
more competent leaders, is the great
problem that faces the Republican
party. 1t looks as if the situation
called once more for an active revolt
on the part of the voters.
In Missouri such a revolt is taking
head under the leadership of younger
Republicans. In Wisconsin such
revolt has taken the form of a new
party. In New York the only group
yet actively crying for such a revolt
is the discredited Macy element. This
group has shown its inability to lead
just as plainly as has the Old Guard
group. Hence the y for new faces
and new names. 4ience, also, the
cry for new ideas.
The Old Guard may continue in
power for while. But If the Old
Guard persists in maintaining its
stranglehold on the Republican party
it will end up by killing that organi-
zation.
Not IN two generations has there
been 'a larger body of dissatisfied
voters seriously considering the for
nation of new party. If the Old
Guard fails to see the light. the for
nation of new conservative party,
under progressive leadership. may well
prove to be inevitable