Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-10
The HQSkin Letter
THIRD PARTY TALK

Washington, D. c., Aug. IA 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. It will
present a national ticket and may put
candidates into the field in, various
states.
As yet. the new movement lacks q
leader and a financial angel it is
understood, and these may be regarded
as rather serious deficiencies. 1t has
proponents but no protagonist. Its
machine is in the building, but the hub
ricating oil and fuel are not in sight.
Also it may be said that the pro-
spectus does not set forth the big idea
that is to ~vitaliZe the new movement.
History records the fact that if it
is 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
can present neither a Roosevelt nor
an outstanding issue it may afford
nothing more than food for gossip
DUNG 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 demo-
Gratis. This calls for propaganda which
is already under way or 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 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.
A Party Of Protest
Wading through the somewhat vague
generalities of it's advocates n finds
that the new party is to be fundan.en-
tally a party Of protest-a protest
against the manner in which the two
old major parties. the republican and
democratic, are managed and a pro-
test against the kind of administration
either of them gives the country when
it is in the ~ascendancy. There has
always been more or less lis 'at'Sfac-
ton with the two old parties. it is
pointed out, and every :nan who goes
into the White House invariably en-
genders hostilities and criticisms that
can be coined into political opposition.
Just now it is claimed that there
are serious dissensions am the
ranks of both the democrats and re-
publcans. The former arc divided into
Wilson and anti Wilson elements While
the latter are segregated into adniris-
tration and anti-administrati1n 'siaps.
1t is argued that while the state or
Woodrow Wilson's health makes Il I'M
possible for him II become the field
general of his party. the @rmer
president is asserting a kind of lead
ership that will fonfnt discord TO a
degree that the democrats cannot hopc
for victory in 1924. AS to the larty
in power it is contended that differ
ences over patronage and legislation
and the alienation of friends or the
making Of enemies by President Hard
ing have created conditions such that
it will be extremely difficult for the
republicans to present anything like a
united front in the next fight for the
presidency.
In the circumstances. say the liber-
als-if they may be so designated-it is
only necessary to bring together the
dissatisfied in the two old parties and
unite them with the large independent
element that there has been in the coun
try since 1912 to have a new party that
might sweep everything before it two
years hence. Old line politicians are
to agree with this, but they
say the one essential thing cannot be
done.
There are plenty of ~malcontents