The Political Party versus the Political Machine

of the forty million voters in the United States at the many elections in which they participate involves careful organization and planning. Political parties are needed to educate the voters regarding the issues and the candidates and to induce them to perform their duties as citizens upon registration and election days. These parties must have a well-trained body of rank-and-file troops, persons who are willing to perform the routine tasks so necessary in politics such as canvassing, circulating petitions, opening their homes for small meetings, addressing envelopes, distributing literature, making public speeches, and looking after the technical details of the election process. There must also be party leaders who know how to conduct campaigns, arrange for meetings, direct publicity, and meet the tactics of the opposition. In addition, the party must have access to means of mass impression. Somewhere it must find crowds for its