Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-29
CONDITIONS IDEAL
FOR THIRD PARTY,
MUNSEY ASSERTS
Publisher Sees Possible
Breakup of Both Old Or
CARNATIONS if Independ-
ent Radical Is Put in Field
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Conyricht. 1928

NEW YORK, May 2S.-"Condi-
tions never were so ripe as they are
today for the formation of third
party-if conditions in 1912 had adj
vanced to their present stage, Roose-
welt would have swept the country
and the third party would have sue
ceeded."
Thus spoke Frank A. Munsey, pub
Usher of four New York newspapers
today when asked to comment on
William Randolph Hearst's state
ment that if Henry Ford were nomf'
mated by an independent party Ford
would receive Hearst's support.
Mr.. Muncey does not advocate the
formation of third party nor has
he taken himself out of the ranks
of the Republican party, though he
has been bitterly opposed to Presi-
dent Harding's world court policy.
But like Mr.. Hearst, who reads the
signs of the times and makes his
comments, so does Mr.. Munsey have
his thoughts on what the present
mix-up in the national political stu
alton means to the country.
If a third party with a radical at
its head is put into the field then
Mr.. Munsey believes there will come
q conservative party to which Pc
publicans and Democrats will flock.
To this extent the movement that
makes Ford an independent ticket
candidate helps to solidify and con-
centrate the conservative strength in
opposition
Conservatives Divided
1.-THE trouble with the present
situation" said Mr.. Munsey, lis that
the conservatives are divided-they
belong to the two old parties. Di-
vided the conservatives haven't a
show in the world. You can't get
liberal conservatives, for instances.
in a new organization unless there
is a radical outburst. If there arises
a strong radical party, and it makes
a good showing in 1924, perhaps even
a winning place, you will get your
liberal conservative party at once.
The old parties would then die. and
ought to die.
Mr.. Munsey pointed out to the
writer that the Roosevelt party was
formed in too big a hurry, thai
didn't have time after the 1912 =
ventions to get we'll organized, AMI
that the situation today is far diff
ferent with whole year ahead of
the conventions. He added:
II would not like to see red or
Socialistic party when I speak Of
a radical party-certainly not a
party with a sane type of man who
grips the public fancy. There are
q number of good men for such lead
ership. Hiram Johnson is one. AL
bert Beveridge is another"
Mr.. Munsey didn't essay any COM
ments on Mr.. Ford's candidacy be-
yond the remark that if Henry Ford
came out absolutely against the
world court, he would be charting a
course entirely different from the
two old parties which are committed
to the world court. He does not I'M
der-estimate Mr.. Fords political
strength and potentiality.
Real Threat to Old Parties
Unquestionably the talk of Ford
10 the biggest thing in national
politics both here and in Washing
ton. 1t is reminiscent of the wave
of sentiment which fired the political
skies for a while when Herbert
Hoover was talked of as a possible
candidate for either the Republican
or Democratic tickets. But Mr..
Hoover's friends made the mistake
of trying to force their way into the
conventions of the two old parties.
Should Henry Ford's supporters try
the same thing, their effort will end
as did the Hoover boom-in nothing
so far as delegates go. But Henry
Ford is being talked of for an indie
pendent ticket and already William
Randolph Hearst announces his
readiness to support Ford, which is
neuclus Of publicity strength that
makes the old party leaders at least
sit up and take notice.
The amazing thing about the
Hearst announcement is the attitude
of many leading Jews in New York
city who are f1abbergasted at the
Hearst position. The Hearst news
papers have always protested great
friendliness to the Jews and have
always fought religious bigotry. Mr..
Hearst's sudden espousal of the one
man who has levelled more attacks
against Jews in America than any
other man in modern times is caus-
ing considerable talk. Either il
means Mr.. Hearst has succeeded in
making Henry Ford repent his eX-
pressions Of anti-semiticism or else
it means that politics has superseded
all else in the mind Of the chain
publisbr.
1t is bound to become one of the
interesting phases of the campaign
for if by chance the Ku Klux Khan
gets tied to the Ford banner and is
sues Of religious bigotry creep into
the campaign there's no telling what
political miXups are likely to de-
velop in the next twelve months.
Mr.. Hearst talks independent
radical party, Mr.. Munsey thinks
the birth of a radical party means
the breakup of the old parties and
the inevitable development of a lib
eral conservative party. No wonder
the politicians are wondering
whether the Ford boom is a real
thing or flivver.