The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1949-02-23
C. o. P. split WIDE OPEN"


Z. Dewey, recent Republican nominee for
the Presidency, that the party is ''splt
wide open," represents one of the first ac-
acknowledgements by high-ranking Repub-
licans that there exists cleavage in Re-
publican ranks.
The division has been apparent to in
telligent observers of political affairs for
some years. While many commentators
and columnistS have stressed the inherent
weaknesses in the Democratic coalition,
there has been tendency to overlook the
wide cleavage between the Old Guard and
the liberal Republican
Mr.. Dewey warns his party that if it
expects to recapture national power, it
must forget the ideas that government is
no more than "a cold and impartial UNI
pire." He asked members of Congress to
vote for unemployment insurance, in
creased old-age assistance, broader social
security, slum clearance and public hous-
ing. public development of water-power
resources, farm price supports and vigor-
Gus protection of the rights of labor.
1t may be noted, in connection with
this declaration, that the Governor of New
York, when running for the Presidency
in 1914 and 1948 vigorously espoused the
viewpoint he now expresses. In general
terms, his speeches, seeking the favor of
the electorate, were endorsements of the
position taken by the late President
Franklin D. Roosevelt. About the only
difference was the Republican assertion
that the COP could do the job better than
the Democrats.
Governor Dewey pointed some advice
to chose who disapprOve of these prin-
ciples" by suggesting that they try to get
elected ''in a typical American communi-
ty and see what happens to them" He
added, however, that they should not do
so 'as Republicans" or permit personal
prejudices to be confused with the basic
aims of the Party as set forth in it's plat
forms.
The position taken by Governor
Dewey, if it becomes the accepted policy Of
the Republican Party, will create an in
teresting political situation in the United
States. Both of the larger parties will be
distinctly liberal and the ruling elements
of both will be publicly inviting dissi-
dents or conservatives, to get out of the
party. Perhaps, eventually, this attitude
may lead to the development of consoli-
dated conservative party, which, if not a
majority of the people, might constitute a
balance of power between the factions Of
the new liberalism, divided into two
groups.
In addition, the political picture at the
present time offers the possibility that
there may arise something like labor
group. This is indicated by the accelerated
efforts of labor leaders to organize labor
for effective political action. 1t may be
that the leadership may not seek the for
nation of an established political party
but will depend upon the influence of
labor votes to affect the leaders and poll
cies of both major parties.
1t is too early to say that the States
Rights group which broke from the sup
port of President Truman in the last
election, has been eliminated from con-
sideration in connection with political af-
fairs. Much depends upon the legislation
that the Democrats attempt in the pres
ent session of Congress, not only in re-
spect to civil rights but upon other issues
which tend to increase the growing power
of the central government If the States
Rights group can eliminate the Southern
label and pitch its campaign upon nation
al issues, appealing to the people Of all
sections on the basis Of opposition to
supreme Federal government, the move
ment might show surprising political
strength in the future.