The Washington times., 1923-12-15
La TOILETTE IS
CONSIDERING
NEW PARTY
Many States Thought Ready
to Follow Liberal Leaders
Cause.
By WILLIAM HARD.

Laheu mere DIS the equivalent Oh an
announcement of La Toilette can
didacy for the Republican Presi-
Dental nomination against Cool
idge; but this Interpretation Of it
can be authoritatively stated to be
erroneous, and it can also be stated
with equal certainty that the plan
which Senator La Toilette now has
in mind is one that principally has
to do with events which will come
after the Republican national con-
vention and also after the Demo-
cratic national convention and
which may determine the election
itself.
Tidings Of Third Party.
Emissaries from the Northwest
have been in Washington during
the last few days and have carried
to radical politicians here the It'd
ings that in their belief an inde-
pendent new third party in 1924
would be able to carry the States of
and North Dakota and would be
able to make a strong showing
toward carrying the States of Iowa,
Nebraska, Montana and Washing
ton.
Senator La Toilette, who over and
over again has refused to start a
third party movement, is thinking
now of the possibilities of such a
movement and is waiting only to
see just what the consequences of
it would be likely to be on the Re-
publican and Democratic candidates,
respectively, in the final November,
1924, election contest.
1t is freely admitted here by con.
servatives from the Northwest that
il La Toilette should run on al
third-party ticket, he will, indeed,
probably carry the States of Wis
consin, Minnesota, South Dakota,
and North Dakota, although his
success in Iowa, Nebraska, Mon
tana, and Washington is regarded
as more doubtful.
Results of Candidacy.
In any case it is admitted that
his candidacy on a third party
ticket might easily and readily have
one of the two following results:
1t might defeat the Republican
candidate for the Presidency,
through switching Republican
necessary States into a third party
column: or it might throw the cleo.
ton of the next President into the
House of representatives, where
the parties are so evenly divided
that the balloting for a President
Arvh r..
without a decision.
La Follette's health has improved
greatly within the last week. He
was obliged for two weeks to stay
in bed. He now for a week has
been able to get up and move about
in his house and take an immediate
close interest in public affairs. His
renewed physical strength is causing
his colleagues in the Senate a sin.
cere personal qualification and also
an equally sincere political appre-
hension.
La Toilette, according to his
present intentions, will take only
those State delegations in the next
Republican national convention
which can be got for him without
much campaigning. Wisconsin will
come to him automatically. He has
Deen holding conferences here with
the Wisconsin member Of the Re-
publican national committee. This
member is Alfred T. Rogers, who is
La Follette's law partner.
He also has been holding confer
ences with the chairman of the
Wisconsin Republican State Com
nittee. This chairman is Robert
Marion La Toilette, jr., La Fol-
lette's son. 1t is stated without
fear of contradiction that in no
State of the Union is there a
greater harmony than in Wisconsin
between the senior Senator, the ma
tional committeeman and the State
chairman. The Republican party OF
Wisconsin is not only for La Fol-
lette, but also for his law firm and
his family.
Other Followers Likely.
It is also perfectly possible that
in Minnesota and in South Dakota
and in North Dakota the flow of
radical farmers into the Republican
caucuses and primaries might give
the delegations from those States
outrightly to La Toilette without a
fight.
II this should happen La Toilette
Will accept it. If it does not hap
pen he will not struggle for it. He
Will have in the Republican ma
tlOnal convention whatever votes
come spontaneously to him from
within the Republican organization
or any state. He will not, how
ever, according to his present plan
go out to fight for votes To he cast
Tor him in the convention at Cleve-
land.
He is looking beyond both con-
Ventlons to the people in the North
west whose party ties now have
peen greatly weakened and who
might possibly be gathered into a
following for La Toilette personally
on totally Independent platform
and candidacy. He will not-in any
technical sense or in any sense
wnlch demands conventions and
rolls OF delegates-establi any
third party formal organization.
he VIII simply, if circumstances
seem to him to be propitious, an
nounce candidacy by Robert Marion
La roulette on n platform made and
puollshed by Robert Marion La Fol
iette' and on that platform and with
TINS candidacy he will go out to get
votes In the Presidential electoral
colege in November Of 1924: and, If
ne does go out to get them, there is
no oouot felt here among experienced