The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
lCRErLLGHTS fHEHl 4G4.1
 k\NATTONAL TTl lN NCAPITAL

Shrewd politicians always take into consideration the possibilities. At the present time they admit that they are giving some thought to the possibility that the cleo tion of the next president might be the duty of the house of repre- sentatives.
 With third ticket in the field, the development of these uneven" days, these days of remarkable upheavals, might be anything. Especially, 1t Is pointed out, would there be danger of the election being thrown into congress were Henry Ford to head an independ- ent movement.
 He is exceptionally strong everywhere, 1t is indicated. There are many men and women who would vote for Ford running neither as q Democrat nor a Re- publican who would vote for no other individual with such handi- caps.
 And there Is more than 6 possi- bility, it is believed here, that Ford will run, or permit himself to be run, for the presidency.
 Now it is the theory that an election thrown into the house would be conducted with equity, and along certain well established rules. If the representatives of the districts would vote without r1nnr1a of the districts voted, an election, without resultant charges of fraud. might be consummated. At the same time. 1t is apparent that even were the representatives to be governed entirely by good faith, 1t might be impossible for either candidate to stand revealed and possessor of a clean and un- equivocal majority.
 Tn that event, jockeying would be in order; under all events, jockeying might be in order. As result of jockeying. there Is no way of telling what the result would be, or how near tho indi- cated desire of the people would be permitted to obtain.
 It Is agreed that it would be unfortunate, at any time, for a national election to be referred to the house of representatives. It would be doubly unfortunate, 1t Is declared, in this particular era. fThe so-called radicals" could wield the balance of power between the two major parties, and 1t would wield 1t. The so- called radicals" are dominated by one man, Senator Robert M. La- Toilette of Wisconsin.
 It cannot be thought possible that either of the major parties would trade with LaFollette on such conditions that LaFollette could elect himself. It is prob able, however, that one of the par ties, the Democratic, might trade with LaFollette on such condi- tions that a man sponsored by LaFollette could be elected.
 The Democratic party, after having assured itself that 1t could not elect its own candidate, might agree to elect some individual, other than LaFollette, rather than the candidate of the Republican party. He would have to be an independent -unaffiliated with either of the major organizations. Ford would fill the bill, and there are others, doubtless, who would.
 Any result would produce dis satisfaction from which the .coun- try would suffer. it Is believed. And there would never be obliter- ation of the suspicion that fraud was practiced.
 For instance, there is scarcely an honest individual in the United States who does not believe that Tilden was jockeyed, by politi- clans and haters of the South and Democratic party, out of the pres idency. There is no one who doubts but that had Tilden been as aggressive as Roosevelt or Wilson or Cleveland he would have so conducted himself that politicians would not have dared carry out their plans for fear of popular revolution and their own cruecifixion.
 And Hayes. who emerged the victor, was never happy there after. It is safe to say that he had an active conscience.