The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-15

THIRD PARTY TALK
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Washington, d. c., Aug. Ma
new political party Is promised ior
the 1924 campaign. It will be
known as the Liberal party. accord
ing to the story that has reached
Washington. 1t will present ma
tional ticket and may put cAndt-
dates into the field In various
states.
AS yet the new movement lacks
a leader and q financial angel, i:
is understood, and these may b re-
garded as rather serious de-
ficiencies. 1t has proponents but
NO protagonist. Its machine IL 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
it is to vitalize the new movement.
History records the fact that II
it is to attain formidable proper
lions a new political party must
be formed around q personality or
an idea. Roosevelt and the Pro
gressive party and abolition and the
Republican party are cited as the
conspicuous examples. If the pro-
posed Liberal party can present
neither a Roosevelt nor an out
standing issue it may afford moth
ing 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 1t
goes into the campaign. For the
present the important thing on the
program is to foment discomfort
within the ranks of the Republi-
cans and Democrats. This calls
for propaganda which is already
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 un-
qualifiedly. The Ford movement
was described, however, as strong
ly indicative of the demand for q
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 its advo.
Gates one finds that the new party
is to be fundamentally . party Of
protest. protest against the man
ner in which the two old major par.
ties, the Republican and Demo
cratic, are managed and a protes,
against the kind Of administration
either of them gives the country
when it is in the ascendency. There
has always been more or less dis
satisfaction with the two old par
ties, it is pointed out, and ever,
man who goes into the White hous,
Invariably engenders hostilitie!
and criticisms that can be coinet
into political opposition.
Just now it is claimed that Their,
are serious discussions within I'll,
ranks Of both the Democrats ant
the Republicans. The former ar,
divided into Wilson and anti-Wil
son elements while the latter ar,
segregated into administration ant
anti-administration camps. 1t il
argued that while the state o
Woodrow Wilson's health makes
impossible for him to become tn,
field general of his party, tho for
mer president is asserting . kin,
of leadership that will foment> dis
cord to a degree that the Demo
Gratis cannot hope for victory II
1924. AS to the party in power i
is contended that differences owe
patronage and legislation and tn
alienation of friends or the max
ing of enemies by President Hard
ing have created conditions suc]
that it will be extremely Difficult
for the Republicans to present any
thing like an united front in tn
next fight for the presidency.
In the circumstances, say tn
Liberals-if they may be so desig
nated-it is only necessary to brin
together the dissatisfied in the tw
old parties and unite them with tn
large Independent element tina
there has been in the country sine
1912 to have a new party tina
: might sweep everything before i
} two years hence. Old line polite
|, ians are inclined to agree with thi:
but they say the one essential thin
cannot be done.
There are plenty of maIcontent