The Washington times., 1912-03-31
THIRD PARTY TICKET
IS DISCONCER.TING
TOOLD POLITICIANS
Rumors Of Another National
Organization Heard in Well
Informed Circles.

While much OF the talk of bolts after
the Chicago conventions and much o.
Ithe third party talk that has been heard
recently has been put out Dy the Nc
Akinley campaign management for the
purpose of tryinE to hurt Colonel Roose-
welt. 1t is nevertheless Il fact that the
third party question Is giving leading
politicians of both the old parties not
"a little concern. In thiS connection
there has arisen n good deal of talk
lately of possible third party movr-
;nent in which two men, powerful in
their respective parties, might Lc con
spicuous. These two men tare Villa ~
Jennings Bryan anl Robert Marion la
Toilette
Hardly probable as II seems, 1t is a
fact that one can hear not little talk
In well-lnformed quarters about Wash
ington at this time on this text:
What if a new party arises and
nominates La Toilette and Bryan for
President ard Vice President or Bryan
and La Follette?"
1t is pointed out that such d ticket,
whether headed b. one man or the
other, would appeal to vast numbers of
progressive Republicans and of progress
sive Democrats 1t would be d combin-
alton that would tax severely both the
old parties. Some who have given the
matter thought believe that If IL sha II
turn out that President Taft is renom-
mated at Chicago and a conservative
Democrat is nominated at Baltimore,
and Bryan and La Toilette combina- =
ton can he formed, it will be the be-
ginning Of a complete rev olutlOn in
parties in the United States and will
soon result In the establishment of Il
liberal and conservative party, with
abolishment of the Republican and
Democratic parties.
Socialists Would Suffer.
The most widely varying views are
entertained among politicians as to A
third party movement and The effect
of it. Many of the old guard Republic
ans would welcome such a movement.
They saT it would get rid of the Repub-
lican insurgents, and that the insur-
SertS would cause them less trouble
out of the Republican party than in it.
Some of the old guard Democrats Ce"l
the same way about settinG rid of tn.
tnsurgcnt or progressive Democrats.
What would worry the old guard poll
ttClanS, however. would be the unCer-
tainty as to just how the remnants of
whether there might follow n complete
breaking up OF the old parties. Social
lists the country over would deeply re-
Eret new third party movement IN
the present troubled situation of Re-
rublicans and Democrats so long as
there is no third party newly formed,
the Socialists see great hope of big
gains Cor themselves.
Much Of the third party talk. how
ever, proceeds without recognizing the
fact that not many Republican OF Dclh-
ocratiC leaders are willing to take the
plunge and leave their Old political
alliances. Senator La Toilette has re-
peatedly said that he could fight most
effeCtiNel,' within the Republican mart Y.
seeking to reform II from within. and
not from without. This is the atti-
tude takcn by most Of the conspicuous
leaders whether in the Republican or
ment. if 1t comes. will have largely
to proceed from the rank and file and
not from prominent old party leaders
according to the present outlook.