Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-30
MARKS
PRE-E[EGT|ON
DAYS IN J. 6.
Lassitude of Voters Is
Taken to Mean Dissat-
isfaction in Battle.
Birth Of Third Party Is
Held Imminent as Re-
suit Of New Feeling.
BY ROBERT r. SMALL
Special Correspnndsnt Of Great Fails Tribune
Cnp7rtght. 1922. by Tbs Great Falls TnhunA

Washington, Oct. 29.-With the fall
elections but a little more than a week
away there is no abatement Of the
general apathy which has marked a
campaign more puzzling to the politi-
cal managers than most Of them are
| willing to admit.
There are a few storm centers on
the political map-in Ohio, Missouri,
New Jersey and New York-but taken
by large there is an Indifference on
the part of the voters as the fate of
parties and persons which sets awry
all the usual methods of prognostica-
ton.
The Indifference Of the voters to the
| two old parties and their willingness
to stay at home in a spirit of .'~aplague
on both your houses" has led many
observers to the conclusion that this
would have been an ideal time to start
a real third party movement.
Many Fall to Register
Washington that hundreds Of thou
sands have failed to register and will
remain away from the polls as a silent
protest against something that may
be in their minds. Just what the vot-
ers actually are thinking is a riddle to
the politicians which they would love
to solve. The republicans claiming the
silence of the electorate and their Will
ingness to let the elections go in some
instances virtually by default means
that they are satisfied with republican
rule in the country is going to continue.
The democrats naturally claim that the
stay-at-hone vote is to be a protest
against what the republicans have done
in the national administration and in
congress.
But at heart the democrats would
like to see a method Of protest more
potent and ~belligerent than d mere
staying at home. 1t takes a real cru
SADIE to overthrow an existing order,
and with the exception of the states
noted, there is little spirit of the cru
SADIE in any of the campaigns being
waged this year. The democrats have
lacked a rallying cry. Their campaign
has been largely negative, except IN
those cases where the personality of
the candidate has been sufficiently viz
lie to serve as the issue.
In several states the democrats are
flirting with the wet" issue. but there
is no evidence as yet that the party IS
nationally to align itself with that ele-
ment of the country.
Borah Is Mentioned
Senator William E. Borah of Idaho
and others mentioned as possible lead
ers in q third party movement some
time ago have not been unmindful of
the mood OF the voters in the present
campaign and of the evident desire Of
a great many Of these voters to cast
a protest ballot.
1t is recognized. however. that any
third party movement capable of gain
ing national momentum and impor-
lance must ~revolve around someone's
personality
The present campaign would not
have lent itself TO pan-exploitation, for
while the elections are national in the
sense that SO senators and some 435
chosen, there is not the national feel
ing of a presidential year.
President Harding has figured in the
campaign in some of the state and
the republicans have raised here and
there the cry Of "stand by the pres
ident.'
The democrats have been able to
match this only by saying don't stand
by the president" and in the strictly
national sense have been confronted
the problem of beating somebody
with nobody.
If 1924 should find the voters still
in q sullen mood, with no love express
ed or felt for either of the old par
ties, the rush to form a third party
will be so great that someone is GER
tain to be hurt in the stampede. A
personality can dominate a presidential
campaign but there is considerable diff
of opinion among ONE Of the
third party enthusiasts as to just who
to find.
Washington Is Lively
Washington has been filled to over
the past week with delegates
all parts of the country to all
sorts of national conventions meeting
All these delegates bring the
story. The people are not talk
ing or thinking politics this year. They
say that political meetings are as dull
dishwater; that even speakers of
great national prominence have found
It well nigh impossible to raise either
word or any sort Of enthusiasm. This
s true of all save the storm spots. In
Missouri they are fighting for and
against Jim Reed. In Ohio they are
the administration an issue and
he democrats are fighting for a strong
nan-Pomerene. In New Jersey they
ire fighting for and against Senator
F~relinghuysen, the only man President
Harding has made a special plea for
his year. In New York Ta1nmany is
to put several candidates
lcross. They are all sure enough up
fights. In most of the, other
tates the campaign has all the aspects
e q mini ton