Evening star., 1934-11-09


Democrats assuring them that the
Democratic party was not dead, that
all it needed was new leadership and
better ideas.
1t was Franklin D. Roosevelt who
sent those letters of reinsurance
around the country, somewhat to the
discontinue of Alfred E. Smith, and
1t is said this was the beginning of
the rift between them.
But If ever there was an atmos-
phere of indigo blue and sadness for
the Democrats to compare with those
November days of 1928. it is the
present period of mourning for the
Republicans.
G. o. p. Future Questioned.
What is the future of the Repub-
hcan party? Has it served its time
and will there be another party with
q new name now to contest with the
Democrats? 1t is easy enough for
the victorious Democrats to point out
that the Republicans lost because they
were simply against the administra-
ton and it Is easy enough to say that
the personality of Mr.. Roosevelt would
have kept Congress Democratic no
matter what the Republicans had
said or done.
But the Republican party has been
In trouble for II years or more. West
ern Republicans and Eastern Repub-
Hcans split on fundamental issues like
agricultural relief in 1922. And the
same thing that split the Republican
party will, in due time, force a cleav-
age In the Democratic party; namely,
the exact function of the Federal Cow
ernment, whether it is to supersede
individual Initiative by State operation
altogether or use its funds and au-
thority to guide and regulate private
industry and production, or gradually
relax governmental restrictions as the
emergency disappears.
Democrats Too Topheavy.
The Democratic party 's topheavy
today. 1t comprises all kinds of ele-
ments, just as did the Republican
party a couple OF decades ago. And
when the Democratic party develops
an insurgency of radicals or conserv-
atives, 1t will be time enough to dis
cuss new party of opposition. This
may come in couple of years and it
may not come for decade. New par
ties are slowly developed out of issues
and psychological moments rather
tnan just interesting personalities.
The conservative Democrats are as
Violently opposed to unsound economic
measures as are the conservative Re-
publicans. They have much in COM
mon. But party composed of con-
servatlve Democrats and conservative
Republicans would still be outnum-
bered today by Roosevelt Democrats.
The large Independent vote which
nowadays is following a leader rather
than formula makes party realign-
ment hardly a mere matter of getting
new name or some new candidate.
The problem goes deeper than a re-
grouping Of elements. It goes to the
question Of what is the true opposi-
tlon today to the Roosevelt admins
tration and what are the bases for
such opposition.
Roosevelt's Sincerity Unuuestioned.
First Of all, even the majority of
critics Of the President credit him
with good motives and sincerity of
purpose.
Secondly, the opposition to the poll
cies at Washington is largely based
on fear Of an unbalanced budget and
currency imitation or the suppression
.of the profit system altogether.
> Third, 1t is directed also at a politi-
zeal spoils system that weakens the
Integrity Of certain factors in govern
@mental administration as well as its
efficiency.
:. Fourth, the opposition also sees the
Federal Government going more and
more into business and running up
an expense item that will mean con-
dscatory taxation.
q All these are points of opposition
which have nothing to do with party
politics, and the trouble is that in
some OF these respects the Repub-
licans have been equally vulnerable
in the past.
Yet on none of these counts will
The popular imagination be captured
and on none of these things will the
Democratic party be driven from pow-
er by the Republican party or any
other party with a new name.
Elections Hinge on Economics.
Elections are won when there is a
deep-seated irritation or the failure
OF the party in power to bring good
times" Many of the irritations which
appeared in the last year and a half
were cleverly reduced in intensity by
the President himself in what was
described as turn to the right. His
September 80 speech gave assurances
which took cognizance of the opposi-
ton currents. When election came.
the administration had gone out of
it's way to reassure business and had
appealed to the voters generally to
sustain its course.
The Republican party, or any other
opposition party, must be in a position
to convince the average man that it
can do more for his welfare than the
group in power. This may be accom-
phshed sometimes by promising the
moon, but it so happens that the
Democrats. being in power, can ac-
tually deliver their promises of gov
ernmental benefactions.
Foes Must Offer More.
So the only logical course for an
opposition party is to write program
that can be proved is better for the
American family than the one now
being offered. When a program of
this kind is formulated, with appeal
ing provisions and new ideas, it will
have to be articulated by men in the
Republican party Of the type Of Sena-
tor Borah or Senator Vandenberg, or
some laymen not necessarily in office
today. preferably from the Middle
West.
But before leaders are chosen there
must be liberal program. The days
of the ultraconServative in American
politics are over There must be a
new deal for Republicanism, too, and
it need not necessarily be a new deal
of unsound economics. It may pos
sibly be a new deal for the forpotten