Abstract
The theme is developed around Paul H. Douglas' The Coming of a New Party (1932). Crying out against cor ruption and business domination in both major parties, Mr. Douglas saw hope only through the coming of a new party. The contrast between Mr. Douglas' "then" and our "now" is striking. "Public interest" has been redefined, with great new political power developed by labor, social security publics, minorities, price-supported farmers, and others with a stake in governmental intervention. Contributing also to the new environment in which political party officials must operate are stronger executive leadership, civil service and the "Hatch Act" type of legislation, improved public administration, and variables influencing party organization. All men are not inher ently evil, but in any competitive situation there are likely to be some who will stoop to whatever will get by. The degree of ethical array or disarray will depend in large part, there fore, on the levels of personal conduct and the approach toward the "public interest" which the environment will or will not tolerate.
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