The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-06-27
FORD BOOM ST|RS
GREAT INTEREST
BOTH REPUBLICAN, AND DEMO-
CRATIC MANAGERS ARE
RATHER AGITATED.
HEARST'S SUPPORT EXPECTED
Old Party Leaders Agree That the
Automobile Manufacturers Best
Chance for Nomination Will Come
From a Third Party.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

WaShlngtOn.-For some days there
has been agitation on the face of the
party waters in Washington. Demo-
Gratis and Republicans are wondering
whether the Henry Ford breeze which
has ruffled the water is only a passing
zephyr or whether 1t is to gain the
force of a wind of popular sentiment
and blow the motor man through the
open doorway into the White House.
This Ford boom is giving trouble to
the managers of both parties. What
effect it is having on the rank and
file of Democracy and Republicanism
is not yet known definitely. Members
of both parties are attempting to read
the signs of the times.
Col. Edward NJ. House started for
Europe the other day. He was just
about to mount the boarding plank of
the steamer when he was interviewed
on politics. He said it was altogether
too early to get excited over anything
political, "for 1t is a long time until
the convention date"
Hardly had this ordinarily accounted
astute politician sailed before the Ford
manifestations took on what some
politicians call a menacing aspect and
what others call a smiling aspect. At
this writing it would seem that the
politicians expect William Randolph
Hearst to support the Ford movement
with all the influences, printed or
otherwise, at his command.
What Old Party Leaders Say.
The Republican managers are inter-
ested In the Ford manifestation not
because they think 1t In any way
humanity possible that Mr.. Ford can
secure a Republican nomination for
the presidency, but because they do
not know how much strength he could
draw from the Republican ranks if he
should by any chance become a nom-
inee of the Democrats, or perhaps by a
greater chance become the nominee of
a third party.
Democratic leaders have said that 1t
is impossible that Henry Ford can
be the nominee of their party. Some
of them have said that while he might
have a great backing in the conven-
ticn. 10 would rot be sufficient to give
him the nomination for 1t requires a
two-thirds vote in the Democratic con-
vention to give the nomination to any
body, and that while Mr.. Ford might
possibly make a great showing, it
would be within the power of the dele
gates of the "old faith of Democracy"
to prevent him from being named.
1t is hard TO tell from the present
fermentation of things, marked as they
are, Just how much solidity and CO.
hesion is back of what, for lack of a
newer and better word, must be called
the Ford boom. Three Democrats of
note, not one of whom is favorable to
the nomination of Mr.. Ford, have said
that the Detroit man can secure the
Democratic delegates in the conyen-
ton from every southern state except
Alabama. They declare that his
strength in the country districts will
give him this backing. They add that
he can get blocks of delegates from
some of the middle western and north
western states, and that he will be a
formidable and dangerous rival in the
convention, no matter how prominent
nor how seemingly strong the candi-
dates may be who are to strive with
him for the nomination.