The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-06-15
RFp1JRuCANIsM MOVES WEST

The Republican national convention can
he interpreted in no other light than that
the control of the party has moved west
The nomination of Alfred M. Landon IS
conclusive evidence of this fact; the NOM
nation of Col. Frank Knox is further evil
dence; the naming Of John Hamilton as
chairman is still greater evidence; and the
Republican platform itself is evidence OF
the fact.
The Republican party at this time finds
itself in much the same position OF the
Democratic party after the close OF the
Civilian war. After that mOmentous strug-
ole the Democrats found themselves al
most without a party. Much of their nu-
merical strength at the polls was swept
away, the South was in the control OF MILL
tarv authorities or false governments, their
ranks were disorganized, the Repuolcans
had reelected Lincoln. and under his dl-
rection a successful war had been waged; ;
much of their platform was obsolete. IL
became necessary for the Democratic party
to bodily adopt much that had mutually De-
Ionged to the Republicans; and through
the,years down to what We term modern
times distinctions between the two parties
became gradually lessened until platforms
and 'creeds were much the same.
Compare this picture to the present.
The Republicans have adopted platform
which ennbodies New DealiSm, while at the
same time the New Deal is rOundly con-
demned. The Republican party has given
no recognition through nomination to what
is called the "Old Guard" The party lead
ership has changed hands and its destinies
rest with men like Landon and Hamilton,
men who would most certainty not have
BEEN given power in the councils OF the
party of decade or two decades ago.
As one faces a map the west lies to the
left. The Republican party has moved
west, and geographically speaking, at
least, the Republican party has moved to
the! left.
Politically speaking, the party has
moved even further west. The Republicans
have pledged themselves to the principle
of collective bargaining by labor, to farm
program which differs little if any from
that of the New Deal; and only in Gov.
Lahdon's Interpretation of the money
plank as a currency with a gold base is
there any consolation given to eastern Re-
publicans.
In the American system of government
by parties such changes must always seem
to occur overnight. There is no gradual
change from one position to another. A
political party gains control through an
election and steadfastly clings to it's prin-
cipIes until overthrown by the electorate
1t were as though an actor should disap-
pear from the stage in one scene. as tired
old man, and emerge later in the play as
youth in knee pants. Is there a signif-
canoe to this apparent reversal of program
by the Republican party? There most GER
talnly is. Just what its ultimate signif-
canoe must mean in the American story
will remain for history and history alone
to record. But, We may rest assured, the
1886 convention of the Republican party
will stand out in American history more SO
than any convention since the nomination
of Abraham Lincoln. 1t marks, probably
more definitely than any recent event, the
end, of system in America Both maio,
parties are now committed to a definite
policy which is in itself entirely foreign tc
politics of the period since the Civil war
Most certainly this change has been grad
ualtthrapgh those years, but the startlin,