Evening star., 1937-08-29

labels for the divergent Democratic
viewpoints and begin to sort out
leaders with the help Of those labels,
thus to see where the party stands.
The liberal" label does not help
much because every Official and every
member OF Congress can be counted
upon to insist he is in some respects
liberal. At least he will not say he
Is welded to narrow political
philosophy, that his mind is closed
to change, to progress, to govern.
mental advances. He claims liberaltty
because he cannot find a palatabe
alternative.
All the Advantage.
When 1t comes to acceptable labels,
the feeling persists here that those
who borrow the liberal phrase have
all the advantage because liberal has
come to be associated with progres.
siveness, with activity with forward.
looking, with democracy. with breath
OF vision, with Catholicity OF interest,
with generosity of purpose 1t Is q
designation which seems to have arro-
gated to itself all the modern political
virtues
Even the frankest of ff-the-record
spokesman cannot divide the Demo-
Gratis on the basis of their having, or
falling to have political virtue
The commonly accepted opposite Of
liberal in political usage here has
been conservative. But seldom is
the word given its true political color
any more.
II 1t were, conservative would be
one devoted to outstanding American
resources, both physical and intan-
glble. resources of wealth and Of po-
litical principle The true conserva-
tive would be one who wants to re-
turn to preaching the simple govern
mental gospel of the forefathers and
one committed to sane moderation in
things political, particularly In those
which might lead away from Ameri-
can fundamentals.
But even those who style them
selves liberals" insist they are DEM
onstrating exactly that kind Of con-
servatism, although in what seems to
them an enlightened fashion
label. 1t has come TO be linked with
such designations as stand pat" and
''reactlonary." 1t has come 10 su1-
gest objection to anything novel what
ever, to any wholesome growth. change
or progress. 1t has connotation of
sloUness of motion and of allegiance
TO outWorn doctrines.
Sharp Lines Of Division.
Those who want to draw sharp lines
OF division cannot divide the Demo-
Gratis on the basis Of their inactivity,
their somnolence and their refusal to
look forward. In both camps, wher-
ever one draws his line. one would
have men who by no means deserve
the description.
1t is equally difficult for them to sep
arate the sheep from the goats on a
for the President and an against
the President basis. The Democrats
IN Congress who have said openly they
think the President has gone too far
In some OF his proposals, such as the
supreme Court proposal, have usually
pointed out that they are not desert
program. And many Of them have
been more enthusiastic than ever In
| support of other Roosevelt measures
10 prove the point. The more ardent
Wnlte House critics among them have
TAKEN the position that. if they are to
De read out of the party or out Of a
considerable group in the party, the
President or the Farley leadership
must do it.
The Whisperers of Washington are
playing game of split, split. iust
where is the split" to the tune of but
ton, button, who's got the button "
what makes it the more confusing is
the TACT that they generally agree
| there is real break and that it might
portend no good to the party. but
somehow. they have mislaid its char
acter and its dimensions