Why I Joined the Liberal Party
KILPATRICK, WILLIAM H.
Why I Joined the Liberal Party A Distinguished American Educator, Formerly a Democrat, Hails the New Party as the Vehicle of True Liberalism By William H. Kilpatrick FBJk many yean I had been...
...And this leads to the concluding word...
...Together with John Dewey he was one of the pioneers in progressive education snd has written naaseross books and articles on that subject...
...To complete the account of my change of party affiliation let me name some positive elements in the Liberal Party which have drawn me to it...
...At further attractive feature of the Liberal Party is its emphasis on labor...
...There was once snother liberalism, now outmoded, which identified itself with individualism and lautez-faire, individualism in the sense that each individual need consider little if any more or other than himself, laiuez-faire in te sense that government should restrict itself to police duties and, specifically, should keep its hands off business and industry and let competition alone maintain propriety within the economic order...
...i i ¦ i _ _ i___1 wnicn "smears' the Old Dealers James F. Farley and John J. Bennett, as havinsr rotten Christian Front support in the New York G ubernatorial race in 1942...
...and studying it was glad to find that his cause was so just that I could join him in it as in a cause worthy of acceptance...
...It wan thus that 1 felt myself increasingly cut loose from ' the Democratic Party and increasingly made ready for a party, if I could find one, whose policies and behavior I could sincerely endorse...
...The Liberal Party states this in no uncertain terms: Real freedom for the individual requires more than the absence of external restraints...
...permanent legislation of F.E.C.P...
...This care for labor the Liberal Party sees and accepts...
...equal medical care and treatment...
...But our day is different...
...No wonder 1 was drawn to it...
...For that matter, neither did Tern Dewey ever repudiate Hillman when he ran as Hillman'* candidate for District Attorney hi 1M7 on the ALP ticket...
...Farley, the darling of the anti-New Deal press, never repudiated Hillman...
...a permanent National Economic Council...
...Pope had it that "God and Nature . . . bade self-love and social be the same...
...These men • and again no names are necessary—have latterly joined openly with the Republicans to fight Roosevelt's policies...
...but the chief factor ' to loosen me from my former party moorings was the more recent behavior of Congress, the flagrant prostitution of discussion and committee action on the part of so many in both houses to gain self-advertising and promote partisan action...
...For myself, I speak for no one else, 1 join the party with no illusions...
...He is now Processor Rmeritns of Education at'Columbia Univer| sity...
...For this year of 1944 I sincerely hope that it may help effect the election of Roosevelt and a morodecent Congress...
...And even Adam Smith spoke of "an invisible hand" which led man to "promote an end which was no part of his intention...
...But it does mean that not yet has America accepted the labor cause as it should...
...The extreme, almost mystical, faith that these early liberals had in laigtez'faire to take care of the common good seems now well-nigh incredible...
...More apparently than any other large group it recognizes and accepts the new liberalism as sketched above...
...Its leaders do now seek the deepest insight they can get into what constitutes the common good...
...Since 1*11 he has been at Teachers College, Columbia University, directing the training ef thousands of American teachers...
...would suffice to clear the doubt And if such a mind had needed further argument, the American war production record would have supplied it: the peak income under former, conditions of some 90 billions in 1929 has now become under government direction some 140 billion...
...With Franklin D. Roosevelt the Democratic Party took on new life and vigor...
...whose President, Nicholas M. Butler, hss de 1 nonaced progressive education...
...As I watched the lying propaganda, the blatant exhibitionism, the unprincipled partisanship—all growing to ever greater proportion—1 became increasingly disgusted...
...but I do not expect it...
...This means that the earlier police power conception of the state has been outmoded by the inexorable march of events...
...Beyond this the nearest it ctjul.l offer for the common good was the hope that, jf things went well enough, the prosperity ot those at the top would ultimately trickle down to the rest of us...
...1 WAS brought up, so to say, in the Democratic Party...
...That this was done at the willing expense, if need be, of the greater common good made it the more despicable...
...Elephants With Short Memories The Dewey press is making much ado about a booklet used by the Democratic National Committee u.l.:~i_ ««_____*» it...
...But, more than this, labor now needs political support in order to maintain its just rights...
...I still recall in anger how it sold out to Tammany in 1917 when John Purroy Mitchel was running for re-election as mayor...
...WlLLIAM H. KILPATRICK is a leadiag exponent of progressive edacatioa...
...merit...
...He ia the author ef The Monte fun Sgtfem, Edmrmtion an«f tht Social Crist*, etc...
...In striking contrast with sll this stood the new Liberal Party, honest, sincere, devoted to the common good...
...They did exempt the actual war effort— that they dared not attack...
...The evil is notorious...
...government equalization of family effort to maintain adequate education...
...It is against this combination of selfish Republicans and equally selfish "big-business" Democrats that I have revolted...
...It is with such people and such an attitude that I am glad to join...
...Nationally, the one and only consistent characteristic of the GOP since Abraham Lincoln's death (except for a while under Theodore Roosevelt) has been to care for the interests of those who have...
...However, not since 190i...
...Bnt also one of the chief backers of Bennett 4 that year was SIDNEY HILLMAN...
...Under his guidance it made an honest effort—as long as he could control it—to transit te Thomas Jefferson's democratic regard for all the people into procedures to fit modem industial conditions...
...Specifically, I hope that it will become so strong in liberal and labor circles that its advice and vote will influence both of the old parties, in wise self-interest if no more, to better platforms and better candidates...
...The like of that did once happen when the Republican Party of Lincoln and Union and abolition did displace the old Whig party and of oaurse it may happen again...
...When I saw him giving instintingiy of effort and devotion to the Liberal Party 1 was the more led to study it...
...This care for labor is what Franklin D. Roosevelt sees but not all within his party...
...In the Liberal Psrty I am glad to join a party which is ruled, I believe, by honesty of purpose and sincerity of statement, a party of true liberalism and without Communist infiltration, a party of sincere regard for a true democracy in the modern industrial world...
...government leadership and initiative in an adequate housing program's federal aid to education...
...These can equitably be provided only through governmental action...
...These men accept the essential principle of the GOP—with whom they often vote— to put first the welfare of those who hsve...
...What I hope for the Liberal Party is more moderate but still highly valuable, namely, that it will continue to stand so honestly and so fearlessly for the public welfare under changed industrial conditions as to become a leavening lump to American political effort...
...If any Open mind had doubted this doctrine of modern liberalism, the great depression—wishfully transferred by Tom Dewey from Coolldge and Hoover to Roosevelt...
...Why I Joined the Liberal Party A Distinguished American Educator, Formerly a Democrat, Hails the New Party as the Vehicle of True Liberalism By William H. Kilpatrick FBJk many yean I had been building- such a general outlook aa prepared me for the now essential position of the Liberal Party...
...But excepting this, these selfish and unscrupulous men have not hesitated to attack Great Britain, Russia, the State Department, the mcessary home-front war measures— snything the administration stood for—if only the attack promised to brinjr them their desired publicity, or to embarrass and besmirch the administration, or to promote some other like selfish aim...
...Now, labor stands well nigh unique--as regards Urge groups—in relation to our democracy at its beat...
...AlIoDKRN liberalism has no such mysticism—-it knows better by bitter experience...
...and he was right for his day...
...For example, for the first time in our day labor and the Negro have received real and definite attention...
...adequate jobs for the demobilized...
...First among its desirable features is its clear modern liberalism...
...I voted against it every chance I could find...
...Locally, except when joined with Fusion, it has seemed the secret ally ef Tammany...
...A religious tract (SPCK) of the times said explicitly that in laissez-faire men "do the greatest service to the public when they are thinking of nothing but their own gain...
...In order to majnjtain a highly sustained level of production aiitk employment, deliberate planning and Control musWbe introduced into our economy—through the agency of government...
...and its strict enforcement...
...The deal, in fact, was srranged through James J. Farley, who sought Roosevelt's support for Bennett, claiming that Hillman would deliver the ALP to him...
...economic equality between women and men...
...bat now it is not so...
...I am glad to join with a group of men and women who follow conscience baaed on the best insight they can get as they choose the political path they will follow...
...outlawing of restrictive and discriminatory covenants in leases, and deads...
...In it all they seemed to hsve swallowed Hitler's dogma, the bigger the lie, the surer it will be believed...
...equal and unsegregated education...
...Each one who consults his conscience will wish a cause worthy of his devotion...
...further extended social security...
...when I began voting in New York City, have I —I think—.voted a straight Democratic ticket...
...Thomas Jefferson looked to the common farmer as the main support of American democracy...
...I have no present expectation that the Liberal Party will as an organization displace either of the old parties...
...Nor could 1 accept the Republican Party, either locally or nationally...
...We new knew that it can be done...
...Only a few of the various social phases of this new liberalism as demanded by the Liberal Party can here be named and these aa bat samples of the rest: equal access to all employment opportunities...
...Yes, the "notorious" Sidney Hillman of PAC...
...These leaders do follow insight and conscience as they draw up their plstform and endorse candidates...
...This does not mean a less regard for the common man wherever else he may be louml...
...Professor Kilpatrick was one of the founders and editors, along with George S. Counts, of The Social Frontier, a leading edacationsl Magazine in the 19 JO's...
...One personal matter—minor perhaps to many who read this but worthy of note to me: John L. Child: (State Chairman of the Liberal Party) is my friend, a friend of long standing...
...it requires the maintenance of positive economic and social arrangements...
...If the Liberal Party should grow to approximate half the citizenry of our country, it might be that individual selfish interests and the deceitfulneas of riches would join its ranks and corrupt it too...
...Bennett never repudiated Hillman...
...I cite no names -it seems better not to— but any reader ran easily supply ample illustrations...
...Modern civilization can go forward as it should only if more of its members put conscience and an intelligent insight into the common good above any mere selfish advantage...
...The open insincerity and dishonesty of these partisan ravings brought utter loathing...
...The positive gains thus made under Roosevelt have been so great that the Republican platform of 1944 quietly accepted them and Tom Dewey would have us believe that he will even extend them—they know better than to attack them openly before November 7. But many Democratic members of the Congress, particularly from the South, are at bottom "big < business" men—carefully selected to promote the interests of property...
...In that year Hillman bolted the ALP, which nominated Dean Alfange, and worked closely with Farley and Bennett...
...repeal of encouragement of the Consumer Cooperative movethe Smith-Connally Act and a permanent NLRB act...
...Whatever might happen under such circumstances I cannot say...
...Tammany was beyond the pale...
Vol. 27 • October 1944 • No. 41
