Burns Says Party Not 'Real Issue'; Stresses Development of Leadership

One of the professors invited to help reorganize the Massachusetts Democratic party said yesterday that there was "nothing necessarily good" about a strong party organization.

James MacGregor Burns, chairman of the department of political science at Williams College, told the CRIMSON that "the real issue--the ultimate issue--is not the party." Citing the argument of his book, The Deadlock of Democracy, Burns said that the most important issue was encouraging the rise of able leaders.

State Democratic Chairman Gerard F. Doherty '50 has asked Burns, Harvard's Samuel H. Beer, professor of Government, and M.I.T.'s Robert C. Wood to serve on a research committee to strengthen the party. Doherty will establish the committee sometime before Feb. 27, and he expects it to begin work early in March.

Although the professors have responded to Doherty's invitation, neither he nor they will reveal whether they have accepted appointments. Burns admitted, however, that he "would not exactly be surprised" if he appeared as a member of the committee when it is announced.

Burns has long been interested in the problems of party organization, both "in a general sense and in a spadework sense." He headed the group last year that produced the Berkshire County plan for reforming the Democratic party. The plan was prepared at the request of Gov. Endicott Peabody '42, who used it as part of his platform.

Burns predicted that the proposed research committee would concentrate on recruiting new members, strengthening the state convention, and improving communications, not only within the party but between the party and outside communities.

"If the committee were established," Burns said, "I think it would be very effective in establishing a plan of action." He admitted, though, that it would be difficult to put the plan into effect "in a state where the Democratic party is so disorganized."