The Harlem News

PATRIOTISM

With control of Congress equally divided between Republicans and Democrats, there is something both novel and refreshing in the offer of seven Democratic leaders to cooperate with President Hoover and the Republican party in every legislative effort to relieve economic conditions and restore prosperity.

This seems to us to be a symbol of a new era in American party politics. The Democrats reserve their right to take sharp issue with the Administration and with Republican legislators on all matters which are part of their party's program. But on subjects which are not partisan in their nature they promise what amount to a coalition government.

There are hundreds of such questions to be decided by every session of Congress. It has been the custom in the past for the party whose representative does not occupy the White House to oppose everything which the Administration wants, regardless of its merits. In the past this has resulted in delay and sometimes the complete failure of programs which would have benefitted everybody, merely because their sponsors were of a different political faith.

Legislation has been partisan rather than business-like.

We hope both parties will prove their patriotism by living up to the promises which the Democrats have made and the Republicans have accepted.