ABSTRACT
The national party leaders tell the state and local leaders which candidates to run for office and supposedly demand that elected officials make policy according to the party platform, just as soldiers should follow military field manuals. Party organizations at all levels supply their nominees with advice and assistance; but candidates may make their own decisions about issue positions and campaign strategies. The Socialists might have been able to focus Americans' attention on economic issues instead of foreign conflict; and they probably would have avoided the political persecution they suffered during the war. Long's party, supporting liberal economic policies such as wealth redistribution, social insurance, tight government control of business. The Democratic party, supporting liberal policies across the board, although not nearly as radical as Long's party on economic issues. The Republican party, supporting free-enterprise economics and go-slow social policies, much as it has throughout the century.
