When some great question is before the country, like that of the adoption of the Constitution, or that of slavery, the people are usually divided into two great parties.  The party that marshals the greater number of votes constitutes a majority and gains control of the government.  The defeated minority usually accepts its defeat in a sportsmanlike manner and loyally supports the government.  Nevertheless it does not cease its opposition to the principles of the party in power.  One of the chief values of the party system is that it keeps important questions in constant discussion.  The opposition of the minority serves as a check upon the acts of the party in power, which is anxious to avoid arousing too much opposition.  This is one means of control over the government enjoyed by the minority party.  A defeated minority at one election may become a victorious majority at the next.  The fact that a party is in the minority does not necessarily mean that it is in the wrong.

HOW MINORITIES MAY GAIN CONTROL

Minorities, however, sometimes win elections.  If more than two parties are contesting the election, which often happens, that one wins which has the greatest number of votes, though this number may be less than the combined votes of the opposing parties.  No other arrangement seems possible.  President Wilson won his first election by a minority vote, the opposition being divided between Taft and Roosevelt.

A minority may win through better teamwork.  There are always some voters who, through indifference or other causes, do not cast their vote.  This is especially likely to happen in local elections, in which there is almost never as large a vote cast as in the same district at a general election.  It is one of the chief objects of a party organization to keep its members informed and interested and to see that they cast their votes.  The party that is best organized for these purposes is very likely to win over its opponents even though the latter are more numerous.

ORGANIZATION OF PARTIES AND ITS CONTROL

The organization of the national political parties is very thorough.  Each party has a managing committee in every local district, the local organizations are united in a state organization, and the several state organizations in a national organization.  The shrewdest men the party affords are made chairmen of committees and chosen for other positions of leadership.  Such organization is necessary and proper; it is only commonsense teamwork.  But unfortunately it has frequently fallen into the hands of designing men who have used it to promote private interests rather than those of the public.  A political “boss,” who is at the head of an inner “ring” of politicians, often decides who shall be nominated for the various offices of government, leaving no choice to the voters themselves.  This makes of our government a real autocracy, and the worst kind of autocracy, because the autocrat (the “boss”) acts in secret, and is in no way responsible to the people.  It is the “frightful despotism” of which Washington warned his countrymen (p. 385).