Evening star., 1923-07-09

himself is well aware of the limita-
tions of his career. For one thing,
he would have to give up all active
connection with the Ford motor en-
terprises. and he probably cares more
about his business than he does about
politics, anyhow. When he ran for
United States senator in Michigan
there were many people who believed
that he would not serve out his term
! If he were elected. The popular be-
! lief was that he was put into the
! race by those who were anxious to
overthrow the republican machine in
Michigan.
Would Ford be amenable to the
! wishes of the democratic party's lead
ers? This all leads to the question
| of his uncertain political Affiliations
/ and his Indifference to party tradi-
| ton and principle. 1t takes two
/ thirds to nominate at a democratic
| convention, and there are always
enough delegates to constitute a one
! third veto.
Certainly there is no chance for
| Henry Ford in the republican con-
vention. as that party is more or
| less committed to the denomination
! of President Harding.
| What are the chances, therefore,
I for Henry Ford's nomination on a
thirty party ticket? Almost anybody
movement in America. Independent
voters of the United States can be
I organized with sufficient funds and
party workers. But a third party
must derive its initial strength from
| political workers who are familiar
! with the mechanics of getting dele
| gates in the states. counties and
cities. The third party movement of
! 1872 was really a revolt in the Eepub-
lican party itself. In 1920 the people
| in both parties did not listen. There
! is as yet no method by which the ma
! tfonal political organizations can be
! made to recognize an outsider II they
do not wish TO do SO.
| If Henry Ford should be nominated
| by third party convention, he would
/ draw most of his strength from the
| agricultural states. This would hurt
! the republican party more than 1t
| would the democratic party. In fact,
| in a three-cornered contest almost
| anything might happen, but 1t is in
| conceivable that one or the other of
| the two old parties would not poll
! the largest number of electoral votes.
The Ford party might finish second.
! but never first.
The danger recognized by all prac-
! teal politicians, however, is that If
Henry Ford should be nominated on
/ tive campaign he might carry enough
! states to prevent the other two can
didates from getting a majority in
| the electoral college. This would
1
| Vice President into the House of
Representatives. situation that is
| always attended by great exciteme mt
| and confusion. The election would
then be by state delegations in Con-
gress, and a republican or democrat
| would be elected-not third party
| man.
Henry Ford can never be elected
| President of the United States. be-
cause he cannot poll enough electoral
votes, but he possesses the power and
| the money to make trouble for the
| two old political parties, and they are
beginning to recognize it. Charles
d. Eilles, republican national COM
mitteeman from New York state and
| at one time chairman of the republi-
| can national committee and secretary
to President Taft. has already issued
! blast against Ford. 1t would not
be surprising if some of the leading
! democratic political leaders did the
| same. They would make common
cause against Ford. and 1t is all be-
cause none of them believes he has
| the capacity to hold an elective Office
| such as that of the presidency. He
/ would have Jared better If he had
| been elected to the United States
Senate or If he had run for governor
! of Michigan and demonstrated his
| ability to conduct a public office as
well as he can manage private busi-
| ness.