Evening star., 1923-05-01
FORD TABO0S THIRD
PARTY NOMINATION
Reported to Have Declared
He'll Run as Regular or Not
at All in 1924.

By FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Authentic word is said to- have
reached the White House that Henry
Ford will not run for the presidency
in 1924 as an independent. If he is
not given the nomination Of one of the
regular parties he will not tempt
fate at the head Of a third party
ticket. The assurance is understood
to have been conveyed more or less
personally to President Harding.
variety Of emotions will be
aroused by this announcement. 1t
does not exactly take Mr. Ford out
OF the running. Indeed. though his
reputed communication does not spe-
cincaily Say so. 1t contains the plain
cratic or republican national con-
vention should see salvation in
making Ford it's standard bearer
next year, he Is ready to be drafted.
AS no one seriously thinks Of the
motor magnate as c. o. p. presi-
Dental possibility. the presumption
Is tnat he has the democratic nomi-
natlon mainly in mind. II he can't
got that. he will renounce his ambl-
lions President Harding need not
date, splitting the normal republican
vote in middle west and western
states and precipitating another 1912.
10 that extent the news from De-
tioit is comforting to the republican
nlgh command. But their anxieties,
II is an open secret, will not be COM
rieteiy at rest until thev know
Whether MIR. Harding will have to
race democratic Ford candidacy in
ls24. That remains the *" in the
situation. @|
Little Chance in G. O. p,
II is the commonest talk among
Poiltlclans in both parties that Henry
FORD is probably the greatest vote
getter in the United States TODAY.
1hepuplican leaders and democratic
leaders alike will tell you that If Ford
could secure either nomination. no.
body could beat him" His chances
or capturing the majority required in
the republican convention are, Of
course. nil. The Harding administra
tlon forces will dominate to that ex-
tent; IL not completely Conditions
IN the democratic convention will be
alIerent. At no opening state of the
oailoting there will Ford command
awning like the two-thirds neces-
sary to choice. But as the THIRTEEN
fortieth and f1ftieth ballot rolls hv'
ana the McAdoo, Underwood, Smith,
kalston. Glass. Davis. Robinson and
copeland forces find themselves in q
nopeless Jam-each of them now and
.nen Just short Of the required
strike. He will himself doubtless he
among the rival contenders in the
balloting. With democrats conf,dent
IN their hearts that they can win with
f,ord. in all probability. the chances
or their turning to him as the logical
compromise candidate will be strong.
Ihat. at least. is how very shrewd
prognosticators are figuring. That
100. Is why they read deep signifi
canoe into Ford's reported declaration
that he cherishes no desire to lead
an independent ticket
Wage Rumor Brings Fear.
Ask any senator. representative or
politician who comes back TO WASH
lngton from the home bailiwicks
aDout tord. The testimony is pretty
Henry Ford" it says. The talk" is
described as far more potent fac
1or than any organized effort on
Fords behalf: Little real evidence
are, of course. Ford dealers" every-
where. but no specific political ac-
tlvity on their part is discernible.
Inc ccss'r grocery and barber shop
talk is what is giving the Ford
movement" bone and sinew.
There is current in WASHINGTON at
the moment, and much further afield
than Washington. q ,circumstantfal
story that Ford is about to proclaim
s.ant new minimum minimum wage policy for his
IS minimum level, he is said to be
contemplating $40 basis as the
lowest wage anybody who works
should be paid. The PRONUNCIATION of
the $40 minimum would be Ford's
supreme bid for the proletarian vote
III; ;1;-
heard the story and shiver in their
boots as they contemplate it's po-
litical potency.
If it were to be followed by some
as alluring as the bid for labor sup
port. leaders admit there might be
Ford wave sent rolling across coun-
try which no party would be capable
OF holding back.
Schemer Lays Trap.
Ford's most conspicuous public ac-
tivity at the moment finds expression
in his international weekly" the
Dearborn Independent. 1t is now call
ed 'chronlc!er of the neglected truth"
as a subtitle. There is an intensive
orive Tor circulation afoot and paid
subscribers are said to be on the In
dependents books to a number run
ming into six figures. The street sale
is In proportion. The Independent is
now running a mysterious feature,
entitled, Does Your Organization
Need Funds?" Leaders Of school.
church and fraternal societies are in
Vited to write for full information"
as to the Ford plan for enabling them
to raise funds quickly and easily"
Whether this is a subtle scheme TO
build up a Ford presidential cam
paign organization Is not known.
A democratic strategist has worked
out an ingenious scheme to abolish
henry Ford as presidential possi-
bility by turning over Muscle ShoaI.
to him. That. 1t is asserted, would
put him out of the running, because
it would make him a government
contractor" and therefore ineligible
to hold federal office.