Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1949-01-21

nomic system of
PATTERSON free enterprise
both prom Bed
continuance of governmental econ
omies. The depression was a real
ity, though it was not plank in
either party platform. Because it
had hit during his administration
it was the basis of Mr.. Hoover's
defeat.
1T WAS NOT until after that 1882
campaign that the New Deal, as
representing a new American pol
icy, came into being and turned
government definitely toward the
left. Previous to that time leftish
movements had been shown only
by splinter parties that had been
breakways from the Republican,
such as the Bull Moosers and the
La Toilette Progressives.
Then came the New Deal
ideologies. They represented a
distinct turn toward the left;
to government planning; to the
appeal to minorities; to a move
on the road to socialism, or
state capitalism, which is much
the same thing.
IN THE CAMPAIGN of 1896 the
candidates of both parties preached
New Deal policies, Governor Lam
don promising to do a better New
Deal job than had President
Roosevelt. The voter had no choice
as between the turn toward social
ism and the old line conservative
capitalism. 1t was not programs
that were offered the voters. It was
not choice between socialism or
conservatism. 1t was which candi-
date would administer socialism
best.
In the 1910 campaign Willkie stood
on a turn to the left. He approved
the New Deal policies. He called
it liberalism and, like Landon, in
sisted he could do a better job
along the New Deal lines. Again
the voters did not have policies but
only candidates, from which to
choose.
In 1914 the war was the big issue.
1t was not whether or not we would
fight the war, but who would lead
us in that fight. Even under such
conditions Governor Dewey stood
largely on his interpretations of
New Deal policies.
OUR WHOLE concept of govern
ment is based on the two party
system. Those two parties should
represent different governmental
policies. One should be reasonably
conservative, should stand definite
ly for our free enterprise economy
and for government as servant of,
and supported by, the people. The
other should quite as definitely
stand for a change to socialistic
policy, government planning, CEN
tralization and those policies that
mean a turn to the left. Neither
party should attempt to straddle, at
tempt to appeal to all elements.
That would provide the vot-
ers with an opportunity to de-
termine the kind of govern
ment a majority wants. 1t would
mean the voters choosing pol
icies rather than candidates.
AS BETWEEN the two parties
and what each stands for, the voter
should not have to guess or supply
his own Interpretation. Those who
wish continuance of our capitals
tic system; those who wish to avoid
any turn to the left; those who
would have the citizens support the
government, not the government
support the citizens; those who
would oppose Capitalization of gov
eminent and preserve the rights of
the states and local government
could vote for those candidates rep
resenting conservative policies.
Those who favor a turn to the
left; who believe in government
planning for the individual; who
would have government support for
the individual and a Capitalization
of governmental activities, could
vote for the liberal candidates.
The old time general store that
served our towns and villages in
the last century has about disap-
peared. The store keeper of those
days has been replaced by the mer-
chant of today, or the town or vii
lage in which he operated has dis
appeared as a market place. The
present day American consumer de-
mands attractive appearance, serv-
ice and adequate stocks. He must
have merchandising instead of
bookkeeping methods from the
stores in which he spends his dol
lars.