IT is a rare presidential year which does not bring to this country a whole crop of favorite sons, slogans, graft and corruption, and popular histories of the two major political parties. The Century Company is therefore very much in step with the times in issuing some 1000 pages, profusely illustrated, for the further education of the men in the street who will soon--at least a small percentage of them--play the role of citizens.

Timely writing is seldom scholarly writing, and indeed these books lay no claim to the latter title. Written, one by the political authority of the eminent Baltimore Sun, the other by a Princeton professor, both books will be chiefly of lay interest. Both authors are well-informed, authoritive, and unbiased. Scholars will detect occasional minor flaws, but will be impressed with the shrewdness of interpretations given to party platforms, campaign pledges, election results.

Mr. Kent, writing of the older party, traces its growth through the past 136 years, notes its achievements and its blunders, comments on its present condition of legarthy and ventures to look into the future. He considers at some length the men whom he considers outstanding--Jefferson, Jackson, Cleveland, Bryan, and Wilson. A newspaper man, his style is concise, simple, dramatic.

Dr. Myers, writing on the Republican Party, is perhaps more profound. He seeks more after causes and issues, and naturally enough sometimes is rather hard put to find them. He tries to generalize on the principles and characteristics of one party as distinct from the other, differences perhaps more apparent than real. The presidents, from Lincoln to Coolidge, he considers both as individuals and as party leaders.