The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-03-04
THIRD POLITICAL
PARTY LOOMING
Senator Kenyon Says Sentiment
FavOrs New Party - Too
Much Politics in Congress

Washington, Feb. 27.-Sentiment
is growing in America for the crea-
tion of a third political party.
The United States Senate is in the
grip of a sinister society lobby,
far-reaching and absolute.
There is too much politics in Con-
gress to allow the members to deal
honestly with public questions.
Radical changes must be made in
the legislative system if the Senate
and House are to be responsive fully
to the needs of the people.
These striking views with others
were expressed in an exclusive inter-
view granted by William S. Kenyon,
Republican, Iowa, following his re-
tirement from the Senate to become
United States circuit judge for the
Eighth Judicial Circuit.
The Importance of Senator Ken
yons opinion cannot be underesti-
mated For the last eleven years
during his service in Congress he has
been one of the unquestioned leaders
in the upper branch, clear thinking,
fearless, a dominant figure from the
Middle West. He has been spoke
of as an outstanding presidential pos
sibility.
NEGROES BIG ISSUE.
THE negro question in the South
has had much to do, and will have,
to prevent the establishment of any
new party. This question solidifies
the South for Democrats, and when
the Democrats of the South solidify
the Republicans of the North natur-
ally are inclined to do the same
thing, and this force in a way holds
the two parties.
THE farm bloc, it has been sug-
gested," Senator Kenyon was remin-
ded, "has been considered as the nu-
cleus of a new party.
1T was not so intended" he re-
piled. "The farm bloc was made up
of men interested in agriculture, who
believed there could be no prosperity
in the nation without agricultural
prosperity, and they were determined
that whatever could be done by leg
islation for agriculture should be
done. Certain interests, which had
been blind to the fact of other blocs
in Congress, started in to destroy the
agricultural bloc.
you ask me as to a third party
in the United States. Well, it is un-
questionable there is considerable
sentiment in the country for third
party.
II have doubted If the various ele-
ments desirous of forming a third
party could ever unite. At the time
Of the Roosevelt third party it large
ly was matter Of personality. ]
Judge from much of the mail have
received in the last two months that
just now there is a rather deep seat
ed and definite feeling that unless
the two great parties better serve
the American people that they will
try out some new party.
mo one could be in the Senate fol
eleven years and not be impressed
with the idea that the aisle marking
the dividing place between the Re
publicans and the Democrats was
artificial purely. That there were re
actionaries on both sides who focl
together when any reactionary prin,
ciple is involved; and, likewise, pro
gressiveness on both sides.
LOOKS TO REPUBLICANS.
my hope. of course, has been thai
the Republican Party would become
a real progressive party. and I still
have that hope. Some day, undoubt
edly, in the United States, though Il
may not be in our lifetime, the ole
parties will change or disappear, and
we will find parties representing ths
two ideas Of progressiveism and con,
servatism. One might probably be tht
liberal party and the other the con
servative party.
"Of course we are passing through
9 period Of protest. It was an i'm