New Britain herald., 1923-07-28
THIRD PARTY HINT
 AIMED AT HARDING
LaFonstte Openly Opposes His
 RelOninatiOn

Washington. D. C., July 2s.--Warn'
 ing the republican party inferential'
 ly not to renominate President Hard
 ing if the leaders desire to prevent
 the inauguration of third party to
 represent the liberals in its rnaks
 Senator La Toilette (Wis) considered
 the outstanding leader of the Farm
 Labor group in and without the sem ate broke his long silence on
 political questions and freely dis cussed the movement of the people to take the government back in their own hands,
 The impression was gleaned from his talk that Mir. La Toilette covets the republican nomination and would prefer that indorsement to leading a third party movement He clearly in- dicated his doubt that the democrats would nominate a man around whom the liberals can rally.
 Fighting Bob." as his friends and supporters call him. is in fine fettle after long rest cure at Battle Creek. where he 'got rid of about twenty five pounds of surplus fat by eating vegetables and taking strenuous physi- cal exercise" .--
 Throwing precaution to the winds, Mir. La Toilette, who Is wont to issue statements on all public questions when his views are sought or he wishes to 'get across" some idea, submitted to a fire of questions by numerous newspapermen.
 Outstanding declarations. usually punctuated with hard rap on table, by Senator La Toilette were:
 1. Mir. Harding is not generally re- garded as liberal or a progressive. His record in the senate is that of reactionary and his administration has been reactonary. His trip west during which he tried to placate the progressives did not accomplish its purpose.
 2. The only way to prevent a third party from springing up in the presi- dential campaign Is for existing party organizations to nominate liberal men on liberal platform. Tn that event it is very doubtful if third party will make any nominations, as such a move would not avail much.
 3. The League of Nations and the world court are not subjects in which the people are interested. Domestic questions are now engaging their at- tention. (This statement was his only response to what he thought of Hiram Johnson as a possible presidential candidate.)
 1. I am not able to say what would be the effect of the third party move ment or the significance of the candi- dacy of Ford if he is a candidate; nor do I know much about him.
 5. Conditions now are entirely diff ferent and more suspicious for third party movement than in 1912. Things have changed much since then. Public opinion is much more decisive and clear cut. It Is more difficult now for the reactionaries to confuse the public mind about progressive principles.
 6. I felt good over the Minnesota election. The people realize that the | only way to improve conditions | throughout the country, Is to elect | better men to office. They are con- stanty retiring men who are blindly doing the bidding of private interests. There will be great opportunity for further cleanup in the senatorial election next year. I expect to cam paign against senators who favor pri- vate monopolies.
 Aside from his comments on Presi- dent Harding and Henry Ford, MT. La Toilette refused to discuss any of the other presidential possibilities. He said he felt at liberty to express his views on the Harding policies since he had done so in the senate.
 While he did not state positively there would be a third party, saying no one could tell what would develop between now and the time for nomi- nations. he indicated his belief that such a movement would be necessary to provide for the liberal views of the people to be expressed.
 'The election in Minnesota" he said, twas a manifestation of the dis satisfaction of the people with the old parties and things as they are. That came revolt is to be found through out the contry. It is in the east just as surely as 1t is in the west"
 Asked when the liberals will start their campaign, he said: Why. it started in Minnesota"
 MT. La Toilette said he could see little chance to advance liberal legis- lation as long as the old crowd is at the helm "as 1t would not be any bet ter received by Harding than it was six months ago." For that reason he is not keen about an extra session, he said, as the bonus bill is about the only thing that could be passed over the veto of the president. Then he added:
 Judging from the speeches by Harding on his trip through the west 1t is apparent he is well satisfied with of the administra- ton. He thinks his program has been very effective and completely covers the case, so what can be expected from the present administration in the way of liberal legislation, He has not suggested any legislation to better conditions which have caused the dissatisfaction among the people"