The Republican journal., 1913-09-18
THE DECLINE AND FALL" OF THE
THIRD PARTY,

THIRD PARTY.
Ii has been commonly observed that
just as the Progressive movement made
Its start in the West, gradual NOV
ing eastward, SO the paralysis of death
seemed to be creeping over it in the
same geographical course. Everybody
has known of the collapse OF the third
party in the West. 1t has remained
stronger in Maine and Massachusetts,
by common observation, than anywhere
else in the Union. Maine had an cleo
ton yesterday which disclosed how hol-
low, however, are Progressive hopes in
these last of its strongholds.
The collapse of the Progressive party
In Maine is little short of pitiful. Only
Ia last November its vote exceeded that for
Taft by nearly two to one. Sept Sth it's
vote was less than half that cast for the
Republican nominee. Political history
may be searched IN vain for an exhibit Of
so rapid disintegration. There is some
thing uncanny, disquieting, almost .grue-
some. in such precipitate decline. One
wonders if the American people have
sufficient evenness of political temper,
when they go in such large numbers into
a party, only to leave it as if someone
had shouted fire
The Progressive organs asserted voci-
ferousiy that Lawrence was going to
win, and he was candidate of admirable
qualifications, much like those of Charles
5. Bird here. They surely expected to
retain second place. Maine laws put
many offices at the disposal of the 1.-TWO
leading parties, the Progressives natur-
ally wanted to be one of them. But
they have been badly disappointed 1t is
safe to say that they will not again fig
ure seriously in Pine Tree State politics.
They have gone the way of all the third
parties of the past.
! The Progressive leaders in the district
had put forth every effort that would
help them hold the advantage they gain
ed last fall. Spell-binders of no less re-
nown than ex-senator Beverage, ex-
Secretary Garfield, exAtty. Gen. Bona
parte, ex-Speaker Walker of Massachu-
sets, and other ''ex's" of pomp and cir
cumstance, toured the district from end
to end. The people turned out in crowds
and listened attentively, as they did
when Bryan and Champ Clark made their
Whlrwind tours there last week.
The result in Maine indicates decid-
ed reaction against the national admin
istration. Peters has a plurality over
the Democratic candidate, with Pro
gressive opponent in the field, material
ly larger than Goodwin's last year, when
there was truce between the Republi-
cans and Progressives, of which he was
the beneficiary. The opposition to the
cent. Today it is in a majority of 5000
and 1000. This is due primarily to the
tariff. The Maine verdict is the first
response of the country to the new Wilson
bill, recorded in advance of its enact
ment. The size of the total votes ex-
ceeding that on the presidential ballots
last year, affords further evidence of an
intense popular interest in the struggle.
The bearing of this result in Maine on
the Massachusetts situation is clear If
the Progressive party makes a CORES
pondlng stump here the Republican can
dldate for Governor will be elected
This now seems probable. And hence
forth the dWindling of the Progressive
forces will proceed rapidly. When the
tide begins to run, and everybody real
ICES that it is running, the effect of the
events of the campaign is cumulative.
1t has now become clearly demonstrated
that the Progressive is not to be the op-
position party, East or West, and that
the battle of the future lies between the
two old parties. The voters will make
up their minds and express their pref
erence accordingly. They will. in so do
ing, nave little patience with sideshows.
Charles 5. Bird is side-show here, just
as Lawrence proved in Maine
The Maine returns emphasize in a
striking way experiences already record
ed over wide range of territory. Were
the election to be held in the third di
trict today, Lawrence's vote would
doubtless be not over half what it was on
Monday Many of the Progressives who
renamed with him lid so on the assump-
ton that his was a real party, possessed
Of likelihood OF success. Earlier n the
season its leaders had declined to cor tinue
the truce of d year ago, as Mr. Peters
proposed. He had offered to go int the
primaries with them and abide by the
result, but they felt too sure OF Their po-
siton to share it with anybody Out
voting the Republicans a year ago by
more than two to one, they felt confident
OF having things their own way now. And
most of their vote was doubtless pooled
on the assumption that they really had
future. Now that this pretence has been
exposed the retreat from the ranks will