The Washington herald., 1920-11-02
Voting Public Gives Less At
tention Than Usual to In
surgent Moves.
BIG FIGHT UNAFFECTED
Election Results, However,
Made Doubtful in Some
States, Says Abbot.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.

BY WILLIS J. ABBOT.
1t has not been a happy campaign
year for the advocates of what we
have come to call third parties,
regardless OF the fact that there
may be three or four of them in
the field. For in the presence OF
I a complete political revolution, the
voting public has given even less
than usual attention to the parties
| of protest" The very general con-
viction that the Republican victory
would be so overwhelming that the
lesser parties would be more than
usually negligible has distracted
/ public attention from the Farmer
Labor. the Socialist and the Prohi-
bition tickets. None of these is
! likely to have any effect upon the
struggle between the two old par
| ties. and with the exception of a
Senator assured to the Nonparti-
san League in North Dakota. and
possible SoCialistic representatives
from New York and Wisconsin. the
lesser parties are not likely TO fig
Lre greatly in the national result.
This is the more remarkable be-
cause of the very general dissat-
isfaction which attended the nom
nation made by both of the old
parties. II there had been in ex-
IstenCc, Immediately after the San
Francisco nominations were made.
i distinctly liberal party able to
make nominations which would ap-
peal to the discomfort then eN-
pressed. the history of this cleo
tion might have been very differ
ent. But the Committee of Forty
eight" created some years ago TO
meet exactly the emergency then
presented. was unable to take any
effective and united action. Many
of its most representative members
broke away altogether. Those that
remained put in nomination a
"Farmer-Labor" ticket. with viTtu-
ally unknown nominees. which the
farmers seSsEsdles--snot represent
them. an $hich the leaders OF or
ganized la&or deny represents them
There ix-R6 reason to believe that
ut. or any other lesser party. will
elect single Presidential elector
'Or for that matter. affect in any
way the issue between the two old
parties.
some state Uncertainties.
In some of the State elections
however. and in certain Congres
siOnal districts these insurEent par
ties are strong enough to give con-
cern to old party managers. In
North Dakota, for example. the fight
is between the nominees OF the
Nonpartisan League and fusion can
didates of the Republican and Demo
( cratic parties. The indication is
that the old parties will be beaten
for State Offices and that the
Leagues candidate for Senator. run
ming as Republican. will be
elected. This is the strongest OF
the Nonpartis6n League States and
the measure of the Leagues success
there is not likely to be attained
anywhere else.
Yet in the neiEhboring State OF
Minnesota the Leaguers are giving
old-line politicians some worry. The
Republicans are claiming the state
. for President by 5000. but admit
themselves worried about their
candidates in the Fourth. Sixth
and Seventh Congressional districts
where the Leaguers are showing
strength. The League candidate
: for governor, Henry Shipstead
+ tnOuRn ma KING vigorous cam
+ paign is not expected to overcome
the Republican lead. In Wisconsin
! the vigorous personality of Senator
La Toilette has been a bar to the
development of third party senti.
ment. except as he himself may be
/ held to constitute a third party
This year he appears somewhat iT
that capacity. as he has secured the
nomination for the Senate Of james
Thompson. seemingly for the pur.
= pose of defeating the reelection Oi
| Senator LenrOot. There is no like,
Ilihood of Thompson's election. but
| his candidacy may throw the elec.
tion to the Democratic nominee. DR.
| Paul Reinsch. The Socialists. who
are strong in the Milwaukee dis.
trict. will doubtless go through the
form of re-electing Victor Berger
despite the fact that the House will
probably reject him for the third
time. While the electoral vote oi
the State is safe for Harding the
Republican split over the Senator.
ship may result in electing the
Democratic nominee for governor
| Robert p. Mccoy.
Where Bryan Counts.