Evening star., 1952-02-03
Same Old Formula
Coming Up Again
Writer Wonders il Democrats
Con Win With II Once More
BY Fronk R. Kent

- u
Since 1886 the Democrats have had
political formula which seemed so amaz-
ingly successful that, partly through
fear and partly through envy.t the Re-
publicans never have challenged 1t in
a fortnight way. Rather, they have
tried to lure away some Of its constitu-
ent parts with the same kind Of bait
used by the Democrats.
Well known as is this formula. recent
developments justify restating its four
elements at this time: ID The vast
army Of civilian Federal jobholders
who, at the rate they are now going
on the pay roll, Senator Byrd asserts.
will cross the 100000 mark by No
vember; (2) the Negro voters in the
big pivotal States of the North, who.
until 1886, had been a. solid Republican
asset and who have increased in num-
bers probably 80 per cent in the last
Is years; go the forces of organ
lied labor, so far as they are controlled
by their leaders, in the big industrial
cities; Cd the farmers, through sys-
tenn Of bonuses, bounties, subsidies,
favors and handouts. This is formida-
BILE though not an unbeatable combina-
ton. It was put together by two master
politicianS-the late President Roose-
yelt and James A. Farley-for purely
political purposes. !.
Yet the undisputed truth Is that
despite its unbroken record of success
the great bulk of American voters are
not attached to this combination Even
when the groups vote solidly, in order
to achieve majority, it must be sup
plemented by large numbers of inde-
pendents, dissatisfied Republicans and
Left-wingers. Also, in 1910, they were
helped by the imminence and, in 1914,
by the actuality Of war itself. In 1948
most politicians agree the formula was
successful largely because so few voters
voted. Given this four-point advantage
to start with, clearly the Democrats can
win with much smaller proportion of
the detached voters than their oppo-
nentS.
These facts are presented not to dis
parage the potency of the formula
because, undeniably, 1t Is the most
potent ever devised for use in a country
where the ballot is free and uncon-
trolled. They are presented now to
make clear the existing national politi-
cal situation. For it Is quite plain that
the Democrats are about to use the old
formula for the fifth successive time.
1t Is also plain that under existing con-
ditions II 1t is again successful it will
not only be formidable but will become
really unbeatable. In other words If it
Is potent enough to continue in power
this administration. weighted down as
1t Is, the chance that we shall be able
to avert economic catastrophe will be
slight. indeed. Certainly another four
years greatly would accelerate our pace
toward national insolvency.
The big question, Of course, is, with
the party SO corroded and enfeebled,
will the formula be strong enough to
attract sufficient independent and de-
tached support again to elect? Will
Republican stupidity once more prove
the greatest asset? No one can be sure
of the answers to these questions. But
what one can be sure Of is: That not
in more than 40 years has the Demo-
cratic Party entered a campaign in SO
bedraggled, dilapidated and disspirited
a state, with its pride foully stained,
its prestige utterly wrecked. its SELF
respect beSmirched, its record smeared.
Revealed corruption is wide, deep ard
entrenched. More revelations obviously
are on the way. The smell pervades
the White House itself Tolerance in
stead of condemnation appears the rule
at the top. Action against exposed
iniquity comes only when political ex-
pediency prods - never spontaneously.
Is it too much to say that only will
fully blind Democrat can look at his
party now and be happy? Is it surpris-
ing that many who followed their lead
ers, through four campaigns should con-
template the present party mess with
loathing and react with disgust as they
see the same old formula being dragged
out and FURNISHED up for 1852 service?
Is it not reasonable that more and more
of these should feel, as do Senator Byrd
and many other Democratic Senators.
that for the sake Of national safety the
first essential is change?