Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-21
THE MULTIPLICATION OF
 PARTIES.

Dispatches report that a "third party" will probably be organized by that small company of gentle men calling themselves Liberals : who held conference in St. Louis the other day. They will not do that, we may be sure, since the third party" already exists in the socialist party. Nor may thev even claim the distinction of organizing the fourth party. That numerical rank was pre-empted a month ago by the gentlemen who foregathered in Chicago and or ganized the labor party. About the best these "liberals" can do is to organize the fifth party, and the next census reports may dis close that even that position has already been occupied. In fact, we think it has; for, if memory is not Rt fault, there is political out cropping in several states that is called the American party. h. Stead of the "third' it is more nearly the tenth or the twelfth party which these gentlemen who net in St. Louis have organized, br intend to.
 A canvass and count would proa-
 show that we never had 50 Nny political parties at one time h this country as we have at present.. But whether that is al |ogether true or not. the number oF parties which have come into xistence during the last year is reat enough to make in itself al Impressive evidence of the distur- led and discordant state of the ountry's political mind just now. It has long been something of a olitical axiom with us that there not room for third party in his country, and if there is not pom for three parties, there is an nexcusable superfluity in the umber which now exists. But hose who say there is not room pr even third party evidently ssume that a party which is doon-
 to remain a minority and which Rn not hope to establish itself ln clltical control in any state, much Pss the nation, serves no purpose. me has only to recall the definite nd permanent impress which the cpulist party made on the poli- les of the United States to see ow superficial that view of the alter is. Doubtless the populist arty is the most signal instance lat could be cited, at least within Pe last 40 or 50 years; but there Rve been other parties which were Ktlnguished only when the ideas 1Sy were organized to propagate
 \ espoused by one or the other N}the older parties. A good lany of the issues which have zen joined by the democratic Id republican parties were rough- EWed and pressed On the atten- on of the country by parties nlch had but a short and feeble fe. Third parties, nor even hth and twelfth parties, will not
 utterly despised by those w',o loefstand the readiness of one
 @e other of the older parties Vrelze on and claim for it's own y ldea that has been mustered to Popularity.
 put as instruments for effectine; .e popular will there is no need N'ofe than two parties, undoubt fiy' one can always depend O,
 s''at any proposal swhich win 4Oush popular support to make
 !, ,"0r1hy of being called an issue ~ pe adopted by one and opposed
 sne Other of the two old par @ lpey can be counted on to
 'As exponents of the yea and
 ' V every idea that wins it's ,l5 ,l;.; ln'o the domain of practical
 4'lcs' ,, and so offer ample facili-
 eo the citizens for expressing
 ssessr Judgment he may have
 " S.. 70 concerning it.Dallas