The Washington times., 1919-10-12
j. S. liberals"
PLAN THIRD PARTY

NEW YORK, oct. 12.-Because the
dominating groups OF both the Dem
ocratic and Republican parties are
mo longer capable Of evolving or
working out an intelligently planned
program Of social political and eco
nomic construction" men and
women representing every State in
the United States will gather in St
Louis December to launch a new
party which may WELD a tremendous
influence at the Presidential election
in 1920
The political forces Of America are
keenly interested in this movement
not only because Of the influential per
sons who will attend the conference
and probably lend their support to a
new party, but also because past eX-
perience has shown that a third force
in the political world can easily swing
the balance Of power in the direction
that best suits its purpose. It is re-
membered that disaffection in the Re-
publican ranks in 1912 elected Presi-
dent Wilson.
An organization known as the Com
mittee Of Forty-eight Is sponsor for
the movement, and II a new party Is
launched this committee will be its
directing force. The conference is ex-
pected to call together the scattered
forces Of liberalism to "nationaliZe
politics." according to heads Of the
committee here, and IL is for the con-
ference to decide whether or not Il
should join forces with the farm and
labor organizations to insure a
greater measure OF success for the
newborn party.
The paramount purpose Of the com
mittee Of fOrty-eight IS to summon
from all parts Of the country the
leaders of its liberal thought and OF
its fOrward-loOking citizens to meet
in conference. Out Of this is expect
ed to grow an effective cooperation
OF organized labor and agricultural
workers for the task Of social recon-
structiOn. At the present time the
committee has no platform, no politi-
cal creed; it is merely the organizing.
power from which the real political
party Is expected to spring.
In order to determine the basis for
a platform, which will be discussed
at the conference, a QUESTIONABLE was
sent out to every member Of the COM
mittee, asking thir views on certain
radical and conservative questions Of
the day. The returned answers show
a surprising unanimity Of opinion in
regard to most of the present-day is
sues. Some Of the questions asked
were as follows:
DO you favor the Plumb plan? Do
you favor the program Of the Ameri-
can Labor Party? Do you favor the
program Of the NOn-Partisan League? g.?
Do you favor a Federal Department
Of Education with a member Of the
Cabinet at It's head? Do you favor
Hrnnn Of
tionaI rights of free press, freedom Of
speech and public assemDIage? Do
you think the United States should
become a guarantor of American for
eign investments?
DO you favor income and Inherit
ance taxes not only to raise revenue
but for the purpose Of equalizing the
distribution of wealth? DO you favor
continuation OF absolute control OF
foreign relations by the President?
Do you favor free trade? Do you IA.
vor the further restriction OF immi-
grafton? Do you favor compulsory
military training? Do you favor the
formation Of a new political party?"
Not only were most Of these qUes-
tiOns answered in the affirmative I'm
each case, but the writers elaborated
on their views and displayed an even
more radical trend than the commit
tee had expected to discover.
Included in the membership OF the
are prominent lawyers,
doctors, business men OF high stand
ing. school teachers. university pro-
fessors, newspaper editors and report
ers. magazine writers, Civil Service
employees. statesmen, clergymen, man.
ual laborers, farmers and virtually
every other branch OF American in
dustry and the professions. Three
former United States Senators, A
number Of Episcopal bishops. many
former State legislators are also
members Of the committee OF forty
eight.