The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-29
r | R ] BECOMING. THORN IN SIDE. IF OLD PFART|ES
Republicans Say He Is Dem ocratic Possibility, And
 Vice Versa
By ROBERT J. BENDER Copyright. 1923, By United Nevs) Especial Dispatch The Age-Hcrnld)

Special Dispatch The Age-Hcrnld)
 NEW YORK. June 2S.-Henry Ford is becoming an issue within the dem ocratic and republican parties com measurable with the League of Na- tions. the world court and prohibit ton. His personal popularity his machinery for widespread advertis- ing and the hot and cold water his advisers keep throwing on talk of his possible presidential candidacy have served to make him unquestionably the most talked-of man in politics today. He is a problem for the two major parties greater than Herbert Hoover was In 1920.
 What may happen within the next important political months remains to be seen, but in that time the one thing that Ford will have to acquire if he Is to be a really tremendous factor in the next campaign is an organization sponsored by repre- sentative group of citizens whose influence can assure him of fight ing chance against elements within the major parties who either do not like him or who belittle his strength.
 Right now a very interesting sit uation is being worked out. Demo cratic and republican leaders alike are moving heaven and earth to get Ford into the next presidential prl- mares. But interested republicans are seeking to force him into the
 democratic primaries, in order to confuse the situation in that party, while democratic leaders, who do not yearn for him as a problem in their ranks. are seeking to have hlm en- tered in the republican primaries,
 Both the organizations - meaning those in control of the republican and democratic party machinery like Ford as nominee as Httle as they did Hoover years ago.
 Labor Chnry About Ford.
 Organized labor has been chary about adopting him and probably, in a show down, would be opposed to him. National defense societies and certain interests advocating large ar mics and navies would oppose him In the belief that his administration would favor a navy of jitney suoma- rines and eagle" boats. while scrap ping the men of war to peat them into farm tractors.
 What to do with Ford is question any one talking politics with the so- called political general stat1s these days realizes is uppermost in the minds. Despite the Dearborn manu- lecturers reticence in discussing the subject there is conviction in the | minds of repu 5liaans as well as demo- crats in staff headquarters that Ford is a potential candidate for the presi- dency and thai his great organization is functioning smoothly, with ade- i ouate financial support to boom him.
 The worried leaders take comfort in the fact that Ford must have | party to hang his hat on if he Is going to make a showing. Further mere. they believe he must put that hat on one of the two major parties | if he is to win. 1t would appear he | would not have chance to break the already organized intention of the republicans to renomnate Presi- dent harding. Some Frightened.
 The situation in the democratic party has not even begun to clear. and. given the right support. Ford might well regard democratic nomi- nation as easily within the range of possibility, His anti-Jew campaign, however, apparently has frightened off William Randolph Hearst's sup port for the moment at least Also. while Bernard M Baruch's recent ad- vocacy of leasing Muscle Shoals to Ford despite the latter's repeated at tacks upon Baruch, created some sur prise. 1t has no political significance. Baruch advocated the Muscle Shoals lease beause he thought it right and elected to pass over the anti-Jew attacks of Ford upon him. It does not mean that Baruch. whose influ- ence for 10 years has been very marked in the democratic party, i would either advocate or support Ford | for nominee.
 In the next six months, undoubted | ly, there will be the same machina- tons under way to kill off Ford IS occurred with Hoover in 1920. Friends | 'of Ford believe that his lack of po- litical ambition will cause him to re- 1 frain from making any effort. With out both effort and organization he rUIldnt win.