The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-08
New G.. @. p. Chairman

chairman OF Cne republican party
clears the decks for such action as
that organization can bring to the
national political picture. Whether
or not it was happy one remains
to be seen. Certainly it falls far
short OF the ideal which some leaders
of the G. o. p. set forth in discus
sions prior to the meeting Of the
partys national committee.
Fletcher, 81 years old, is wealthy
man, although not obnoxiously so.
He meets the specifications on that
point. but not on his age. Some lead
ers had hoped to select man younger
and presumably more vigorous.
Fletcher has had distinguished
career and is unblemished as to repu-
tation, but he comes from the east.
whereas many wiseacres had speci-
fled a chairman from the middle
west.
He is we'll known to many Of the
nations leaders but not to the gen.
eral public. For all the average voter
knows he might be the maker of
Castoria rather than a distinguished
diplomat, for our ambassadors are
likely to be better known abroad than
at home.
AS things stand, therefore, Fletcher
is pretty much an untried quantity
and what genius he has for party
organization on a national scale re-
mains to be demonstrated.
More significant than the action on
the craftsmanship was the espousal Of
party ideals as laid down by the pol
icy committee. A thrust at many Of
the policies Of the Rooseveltian New
Deal, it nevertheless is far cry from
the laissez faire of the Hoover admin
istration. Recognition of the fact
that this nation has been backward
in the field of social progress hints
at confession of the sins for which
the party was overthrown in 1882 and
a pledge to do better. although the
declaration is too indefinite to indi-
cate any certain course of action.
Politically, it has the virtue Of
holding out something to those who
are suspicious of or disturbed by the
Rooseveltian order but who still have
yearning for some sort Of social adj
vancement. In other words, it may
be designed to catch the middle Of
the-road voter.
BY its Intelligent" attitude toward
criticism of the Roosevelt policies,
the party also puts itself into position
to take over such of these as prove
successful in the event that it returns
to power.
The political history of the nation
since the Civil war shows that the
Democrats, probably because they
have been consistently in the minor
ity. have been the reform party of
the nation. Each time they have
come to power they have inaugurated
new advances" in the science Of gov
eminent. There is merit to the con-
tention that their subsequent defeats
were due to the fact that they pushed
them too far. Almost any unbiased
observer will agree that Democratic
ineptitude rather than Republican
genius has been the basis for Repub-
lican victory in the past.
The history of most political re-
forms everywhere is that at least the
gesture Of reform has remained even
after the reformers have been ousted
from office. It may be 50 in the pres
ent national situation. There Is no
denying that the latest Republican
move payes the way for q campaign
which may, at least in part. be based
on challenge Of the capacity Of the
Democrats to operate the machinery
which they have set up, as well as
attack upon the machinery itself.