Evening star., 1934-11-25
POLITICAL GROUPS
HELD NEW FACTOR
Parties May Be Superseded
in Power by Bodies Like
CoughIin's.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Groups instead of political parties
may constitute the most powerful
force in governmental affairs in the
next few years.
Announcement of the formation by
Father Coughlin of the National Union
for Social Justice to unite the per-
sons of the So-Called left or radical
point of view comedies with the re-
newed effort of the American Liberty
League to gather together those OF
the right or conservative school of
thought
The Detroit priest estimates he may
get 5000 900 members ana he takes
occasion to attack the Liberty League
which is also bent upon acquiring a
membership running into millions of
voters.
Both Are Bipartisan.
Both organizations are alike in that
they will seek to be bipartisan. re-
CrUting their members from both the
Democratic and Republican parties
Both also profess to be intending
to help President Roosevelt.
This is not mere camOuf1age, either,
for each of these two opposite groups
feels that Mr. Roosevelt will be guided
and influenced by the show Of
of public opinion.
These tactics are not new. The
Anu-Saloon League used them years
t. i,,
Sional districts by swinging large
groups of votes from one candidacy
to the other, depending upon the
willingness of a candidate to agree
with or disapprove particular proposals
of legislation upon which he or she
happens to be questioned by the
groups.
Report May BE Required.
Are these organizations, like the
American Liberty League and the
National Union for Social Justice po-
ltical in the sense that they must
report their contributions to Congress?
representative elect Hook of Michi-
gan has said he would introduce a
bill requiring such reports from the
Liberty League, but it is declared that
the league has arranged to make
periodic reports irrespective of whether
the law does or does not require it.
II every organization which claims
to be educational is political in
stitution, then it may be that plenty
of other public bodies which have
economic or social objectives that re-
late to legislation will have to file a
oil
The purposes of the National Union
for Social Justice and the American
Liberty League are to focus attention
on public questions. They are legiti-
mate because they are provided for
under the constitutional guarantees
of free speech and the right of petit
ton to Congress. Whether the leader
ship of any of these groups should be
taken over by persons prominently
identified with the various churches
of America is something upon which
there will be differences of opinion.
Cannon's Case Recalled.
Thus, Bishop Cannon of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church was severely
criticized for his activities in con-
nection with prohibition, and it is not
unlikely that the same point of view
which insisted then that there ought
to be a clear separation between
church and state matters will revive
this argument with reference to the
activities of the eminent Catholic
clergyman from Detroit.
Father Coughlin, of course. has
much more personal following than
anybody in the American Liberty
League, though Alfred E Smith, for
mer Governor of New York, is ex-
pected to speak frequently on behalf
Of the latter group.
So far as the Roosevelt administra-
ton is concerned, there is likely to
be a middle of the road course pur-
sued between the demands of the left
and the right. This will not diminish
the efforts of either the leftists or the
spective causes.
Officials Heed Voters.
The presence of a militant group of
a million or two voters is always
notification to official Washington to
stop, look and listen. The American
Legion, the American Federation of
Labor, the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States all have developed
organizations which could become
powerful factors in politics if aggres-
sive tactics were decided upon by their
leaders. They all have potential
voting strength.
While there is no congressional
election for two years, managers Of
voting groups know that Just as much
influence is eXerted between elections
as during campaigns, because the BIZ
partisan organization which is effec
lively set up let's the members of
Congress know constantly what the
people back home are thinking.
Letter writing and telegraphing goes
on all the time, and, while much of it
is apparently concerted and loses its
influence, nevertheless much of the
activity does seem to have its effect
from time to time.
Coughlin Lobby Seen.
Father Coughlin described his or
ganizatiOn the other day as "citi-
zenS lobby" which indicates that
direct pressure will be one of its chief
weapons. The Michigan clergyman
has been here the last few day. con-
ferring with members of Congress,
and it is assumed that he will have
frequent communication with them
in the coming session.
Every week Father Coughlin speaks
over a series of radio stations and
pays for the time by contributions
received from his listeners. With the
exception OF the Democratic and Re
publican party organizations, it is a
rare thing to have appeals for funds
made over the radio to take care of
any kind of lobby, and it would not
be surprising if other organizations
would feel justified in copying Father
Coughlin's methods.
Altogether. the Republican party
may be a minority and the Demo-
Gratis may have an overwhelming
ic