The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-10
By FREDERICK j. HAsKIN

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 10.-A
new political party is promised for the
1924 campaign. 1t will be known as
the Liberal party according to the
story that has reached Washington.
1t will present a national ticket and
may put candidates into the field in
various states.
As yet the new movement lacks a
leader and a financial angel, it is IN
derstood, and these may be regarded
as rather serious deficiencies. 1t has
proponents but no protagonist. Its
machine is in the building, but the
~lubricating oil and fuel are not in
sight. Also it may be said that the
prospectus does not set forth the big
idea that is to vitalize the new move
ment.
History records the fact hat if it
lis to attain formidable proportions a
new political party must be formed
around a personality or an idea.
Roosevelt and the Progressive party
and abolition and the Republican
party are cited as the CONSPICUOUS e
amples. If the proposed Liberal party
can present neither a Roosevelt nor
an outstanding issue it may afford
nothing more than food for gossip dur
ing these political dog days.
However, the enthusiasts declare
that the movement will Develop the
requisite leadership and that it will
present issues a plenty when it goes
into the campaign. For the present
the important thing on the program is
to foment discomfort within the ranks
of the Republicans and Democrats.
This calls for propaganda which is al
ready under way on a small scale
| and it is to be expected that there will
be more of it as the weeks roll by.
1t should be stated at the outset
that the Liberal party is in no wise
to be COMPOUNDED with the Henry Ford
presidential movement. One of the
| missionaries of the new cause who
/ came to Washington from New York
a few DAYS ago said so unqualifiedly
The Ford movement was described
however. as strongly indicative of the
demand for a new deal in national and
political affairs and was in that sense
highly significant.
Party is
OF Protest
Wading through the somewhat
vague generalities of its advocates
/ one finds that the new party is to be
fundamentally a party of protest
protest against the manner in whtcf
the two old major parties, the Repub
Iican and Democratic, are managed
and a protest against the kind of ad
ministration either of them gives the
country when it is in the ~ascendancy
There has always been more or less
! dissatisfaction with the old parties, il
is pointed out, and every man who
goes into the White House invariabl!
eneenders hostilities and criticism!
that can be coined into political oppo
sition.
Just now it is claimed that there
are serious dissensions within the
ranks of both the Democrats and thj
Republicans. The former are divide,
into Wilson and anti-Wilson element
while the latter are segregated int
administration and anti-administratioI
camps. 1t is argued that while thu
state of Woodrow Wilson's healtl
makes it impossible for him to becomi
the field general of his party. tn
former president is asserting a kind o
leadership that will foment discord t.
a degree that the Democrats canno
hope for victory in 1924. As TO tn,
party in power it is commended tina
differences over patronage and legls