The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-13
Hostile Groups In Ranks Of Both Parties Too Widely
 Scattered To Join In Con- certed Drive To Win Presi- dency-Not Likely To Bolt
FORD CANDIDACY IS NOT TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY
Johnson, Borah And LaFol-
 Iette To Fight Harding In Republican Primaries, But Will Not Form New 0rgani- zation, Washington Belief

WASHINGTON. May 12.-Only a political miracle win bring third party of real national proportions into the next presidential campaign. This is the judgment of seasoned politicians of both parties. It Is based on the failure of the indepeno. ent groups like the committee Of forty eight and the farmer-laoor party in the northwest to arouse nation wide enthusiasm.
 The third party material ID scattered among so many different groups and gathered around so many different leaders, that unlflctatlon n figure by tne nexe campaign Is hign- ly improbable. This, at any rate' is the judgment here.
 only three men have sufficient in- dependent followings to make them possibilities worth conslderlns- Henry Ford, Senator LaFollette ana senator Borah. While Borah was proposed as the candidate of the committee of Forty eight last week. the prospect of his venturing outside of the republican fold is exceeding ly remote.
 Ford Is Mentioned.
 LaFollette ight, but probably won't Ford is the one around whom real third party might coagulate. He is now suspected of designs on the democratic nomination. But democratic politicians are set on picking d man of more regular party tendencies. They recognize Ford possibilities as a vote butler, but they want some one who will be req soma ble" once he is elected. Ford s ideas of business efficiency are too unique for the purposes of practical politicians. Whether he would be a third candidate, with little chance or election, is doubtful. .,,
 Much talk of Hiram Johnson will be heard in the coming few months, but he, like Borah and LaFollette' can reasonably be counted upon to remain under the republican label. All three are bitterly opposed 10 Harding and will do everything with nomination. They intend to fight every inch of the way in the early primaries and build up a group or anti-administration delegates for the national convention.
 O o O
 Betting On Harding.
 But the betting is still over whelmingly in favor of Hardings re- nomination. If and when the Presi-- dent is re-nominated tho situation or 1920 will be repeated. Johnson Borah and LaFollette will make no effort to hide their dlsa -'roVal oi Harding But they will support him in preference to the democratic nominee.
 1t will be remembered at John- son will still be young man In 1928. Also Borah ranks next to Lodge on the Senate foreign rela- tions committee-a post, which has for many years, carried the Senate leadership with it. LaFollette is second man on the powerful finance committee which practically con- trols tax legislation. He is also sec ond on the interstate commerce com . mittee, which handles all railroad legislation. Taxes and railroads are the two subjects nearest the hearts of the progressives. Their leader is unlikely to toss away his chances at two of the most important chairman ships in Congress by bolting the party at this late date Botn La- Toilette and Borah refused to follow Roosevelt in 1912.