THE REFORM PARTY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 776, 28 March 1910, Page 8

THE REFORM PARTY.

' Sir,- —In common with many of your readers, I am grateful to you for having afforded an opportunity in your cdlunms for a free discussion of the Reform party policy. While recognising cordially the excellent work of that gallant little . band of heroes which, for nearly twenty years, has held the fort, it should, not, .1 think, be considered traitorous' or disloyal' if the rani and fite venture to suggest a better method of tactics. Politics, howevei;, is ah art, and a very tricky one, too, and it is not impossible • that the leaders are right after all, and that the rankers are bnt crying for the unattainable, and must be satisfied with a more or less unsatisfactory compromise. But it must never be forgotten by leaders that the mere object of returning them to power cannot evoke the enthusiasm of a political party, without, which no success is possible. That can. only be done by realising the .true ideals'of the rank and file.of the party, and fighting for them aloiie. For instance, the attainment of the optional freehold, with restricted area, is , a cardinal plank of the Reform party's platform. Yet more than one of the party's leaders are opposed to the freehold, and the rank and We know this'. They know also that there is a large majority in the House m favour of this measure; and yet the question was never pressed to a division. Many insignificant attacks were made upon the enemy, but the long-lookcd-for general engagement was avoided. To thorn this is incomprehensible, and it is inevitable that their enthusiasm should be damped thereby. Leaders too often: act as if the aim of their party were the triumph and the return to power of their own combination of politicians, whereas the aim of the rank and file is far otherwise. It ls the triumph of, certain measures, in which the leaders are, merely instruments,, more or less necessary; and though the party would prefer "to reaV ise its ideals under its own leaders, yet it would rather lose its leaders than' its ideals. In fact, leaders must realise that they are the, servants, and not the masters'-of their party, and so should take more pains to ascertain its wishes. The rank and file should be callsd on for financial support, as well as for advice and sympathy. It. would be willingly given, and would be a great means of stimulating enthusiasm. Those who resent your action in opening your columns to criticisms on the Reform party's leaders, are not only misjudging tho relations of the leaders to the party, but, are misapprehending the role which should be played by an honourable journal. There is billy one thing more tiresome than a paper which constantly blames and never praises its opponents, and that is one which, like the great feasts of • the Apocalypse with their oyerlasting Hallelujahs, indiscriminately ' and incessantly cliannts the praises of,its pet heroes.—l am, etc, WGAMMA: -