The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-04-27
A CODE FOR CANDIDATES.
somebody.

l A CODE FOR CANDIDATES
Party platforms have always contained more
poetry than truth, more glittering promise than
possible performance But it has remained for the
vctors in the last national election beginning with
their induction into office, to embark on policies
and programs on which the country had not voted
and which would probably have been repudiated
had they been put before it. Consequently, we be-
lieye that there should be code for candidates,
even though it cannot be an official one, which
will demand that before candidates enter the prl-
mares and again before election day, they go on
record infinitely and unequiVocaly as to just where
they stand on the vital and fundamental questions
before the American people today. For those who
refuse such clear-cut statement there should be
no nomination., for they will stand convicted of
political porch-cimbing. For those who disregald
their promises who try to start something on
which the voter has had no opportunity to pass,
there should be popular criticism and opposition
as long as they remain in office, and political os'
tracism when they leave it.
To a greater or lesser extent, both parties have
offended in the past. Only the voters can make
elections safe for Democracy in the future, and
their safeguard is code for candidates, with sum-
mary cracking down on those who violate 1T after
they have been elected to office. .'
The spring primaries are on us. The candidates
weaving garlands of pretty words and adorn-
ing themselves with flowers of rhetoric. We can
disregard all that. Let hand them the hoe and
the spade, and see how they behave when it comes
to choppng weeds and planting real crop that
will come to sound maturity.
. Out of the confusion of the past year. the vital
issues are emerging and the questions on which
candidates must declare themselves daily grow
ing clearer. Is the man who is asking for your
vote in favor of government ownership, govern
ment banking, government medding, government
under a bureaucracy, for mini
mum of government in business, with individual
opportunity and freedom from tyrannical rule by
government departments and bureaus? Is he for
the dominance of the farmer, or organized labor
or organized veterans, or organized business I'M
der the New Deal, or for fair deal and no special
favors for all four? Is he for confscation by taxa
ton, redistribution by demagogues, for OPP
for everybody and anybody to accumu-
late honestly and without special privilege, to work
for themselves as well as for the politician and
the taxgatherer? Is he for free speech and free
criticism of public officials whose acts, in his opn
ion, call for criticism?
These questions are American, not partisan
/
and Republicans alike They must be answered
clearly and definitely by the candidates of both
parties. We are entitled to detailed statement
from the party in power, setting forth its beliefs
and its detectives and by what methods it proposes
to bring them about; must have equally
clear and detailed statement from the opposition.
We have had enough of children's games-hide
in the dark and follow the leader bndly, regard
less of the jumps he may be taking over us. The
grown-up part of the country wants to put away
childish things. ....
Finally although congress is an elected body
and includes large number of lawyers, we gather
from reports in the press that some of our impor-
tant laws being drawn up by the so-caled brain
trust partly advisory, partly appointed, but not
an elected group As they seem, according to all
accounts, to be playing an important part in gov
eminent, believe that the voter should have full
information about their backgrounds and beliefs.
We would suggest first provision in code
for candidates that every office seeker be obliged
to pledge himself to oppose every measure and
grant OF power that is not in harmony with both
the letter and the spirit of constitutional govern
ment -.t ... .-...<". e.. ,..,..
Today there is large body of men and women
IN the country who unorganized, inarticulate, |
and unable to express their beliefs. their doubts
and their wishes. We suggest that insistence on
a code for candidates would be first step toward
clarifying the situation and giving them an oppor- |
tunity of making themselves heard. Government |
begins in ones own home enthusiastically Eve
ming Post +. &c. |
You can say one thing for New Dealers. When
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