The Colorado statesman., 1924-03-29
WHO WOULD LEAD
A THIRD PARTY?
WASHINGTON POLITICIANS DO
NOT BELIEVE 1T WILL BE
LAFoLLETTE OR 5oRAh.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK

L looks into the political future still
is asking, What of a third party In
the presidential campaign2" The won
der is If Senator Robert NJ. LaFol-
lettc, as a good many of his follow
ers desire, will consent to lead a third
party in the coming campaign.
In letters from Washington recently
II was said that all of the probabilities
are that such party will be in the field
with presidential candidate next
summer, but that 1t was by no means
assured that LaFollette, who seem
lngly always has had a strong liking
for the appearance of regularity, If
not as some people seem TO think for
Its substance, may decline to head a
third party force.
Senator LaFollette recently asked
that his name be taken off the primary
ballot in, North Dakota, but the re
quest or order seemingly has not been
obeyed. Some politicians in Washing
ton interpreted this action of the Wis
consin man as meaning that he did
not care to enter the primaries OF
North Dakota as a Republican because
he was thinking hard on proposition
to lead a third party.
This thought, however, does not
seem to appeal to some of the more
nstute politicians here. No one really
seems 10 think that Senator LaFol-
lette is oven going to suggest leader
ship in third party until after the
Republican convention has met and
has done its work. LaFollette. In
public communication, has intimated
that he thinks steam roller operations
In the Republican convention will nom
mate President Coolidge.
Murdock Might Lead It.
Some of the advocates of the nom
lnation of Hiram w. Johnson put out
statement at the same time to the
effect that third party is certainty
If President Coolidge is nominated.
These Two things taken together show
something of the bent of mind of the
opposition of the progressive RepuD-
licans to the nomination of the man
now in the White House. There seems
To be no absolutely liked belief in
Washington, however, that Senator La
Toilette will bolt the party If Cool
ldge is nominated, and there seems
to be fixed belief that Senator John
son will not consider taking such n
course.
Victor Murdock, late of the federal
trade commission, one time Republican
lnsurgent in the house of representa-
tives and later a Wilsonite, has been
suggested recently us man who more
than likely may be called upon TO lead
a third party movement. Murdoch has
strength of individuality, and he also
has picturesque personality, but this
red-headed leader of progressivism in
the house of representatives of four
teen years ago has been rather out
Of Tie limelight recently except that
supplied by the lecture platforms.
In the year 1916 the Republican
leaders who were dubious about the
chances of party success in Kansas
were exceedingly anxious to find out
how Victor Murdoch and his news
paper were going to stand in the cam
paign. At that time Victor was in
China, and it was a long time before
any word came from him, and then
1t was not transmitted to the party
leaders but to two members of his
family who were running his Wichita
newspaper in his absence. Victor and
his paper came out for Woodrow Will
son. 1t is possibly worthy of note
that in his little autobiography pre-
pared for Who's Who in America the
Wichita man refrains from giving the
r.tty IN Nt-hi oh
he belongs,
Senator Borah has been spoken of
number of times as II possibility in
the field of leadership for third
party, but this word has been dis
counted by most of the politicians here
In Washington. Senator Borah n year
or two ago spoke affirmatively of the
likelihood of third political organl-
zation, but he in no wise inllmated he
had any desire to lead such n party.
Taking one thing with another,
while Washington is fairly well con-
vinced that n third party is n prob
ability there is a strong feeling that
most of the more prominent Republic
ans suggested as likely to lead 1t Will
be much more likely to remain in the
fold and to use their abilities as sen
utors or as other officials in attack
upon things in the economic or politi-
cal field which they do not like.
There is little likelihood. as poll
ticians here view 1t, that the balance
of power hold which the progressives
have on the senate can be loosened for
some years to come. The survey of
the field of the coming vacancies, with
proper study of likely happenings
makes 1t seem that things year from
now, when the new congress comes to-
gether, will be just about the same
as they are today.
DeciPhering Code Messages.
1t was an army code expert who
translated for the oil investigating com
mittee some of the messages sent In