Evening star., 1924-05-29

been saving La Toilette would not
run if the Democrats nominated q
progressive like McAdoo. But the
Wisconsin senator wants to run be-
cause he thinks he can he elected
His idea is that he would have an
easier time of it if both parties nomI-
nA.--i conservatives and left the pro-
Rrassive and liberal vote to be Won
by ..i:n.
The political strategists of both
parties profess to be satisfied with
the La Folette announcement in that
they think it will help their respec-
tive causes. The Republicans feel 1t
will unite the conservative strength
of the country behind President Cool
idge drawing Democratic conserva-
tives to his side in pivotal states
The Democrats think it will mean the
victory of La Toilette in certain
western states which ordinarily
would be carried by President Cool
idge and which now would make
Democratic victory -as easy as it was
IN 1912 when the Republican party
was split.
None of these views is convincing,
but they will he eXpounded from now
advantage of the La Toilette move
ment in the way that suits each
party. 1t is not unlikely that the
nomination of a radical Democrat
would make the Republican cam
paign cry one of conservatism and
safe and sane" doctrine. The Demo-
Gratis. on the other hand. would seek
to prove that their radical is not as
unsafe as La Toilette, and so on.
May Divide West.
Analyzing the national political sit
uation. it would seem that the Wis
conSn senator enters the race at the
psychological moment and that rare
ly has there been year in which a
man of his theories could command
as much strength as today in the
west. In 1916 the Democrats wen by
Il combination of the west and south
The McAdoo Democrats have been
counting on the same line of attack.
they virtually concede most of the
eastern states to President Coolidge.
But if La Toilette divides the west with
a Democrat, the chances are no can
didate will have a majority of the
electoral vote and the contest will
have to be decided by the House OF
Representatives. voting by state dele
cations, and the outcome of that is in
doubt, because the party affiliation is
practically even.
There the La Toilette group would
again control, for they could influence
the choice of a radical Democrat
rather than a conservative Republi-
Can-they would repeat the combina-
tion they have been making in the
present session of Congress on legiS-
lation.
= But the strategy of the McAdoo
Democrats isn't the only strategy be-
ing eXpounded. The friends of Gov
Al Smith and John W. Davis say il
is foolish to concede the east and that
with more or less moist candidates
the prohibition question could upset
all calculations in the east and win a
few important states for the Demo
Gratis.
See Benefit i'm Revolt.
= Then. with La Toilette capturing z
few Republican states in the west
the Democrats would weaken Mr.
Coolidge's chances in the east and al
the same time get the benefit of the
western revolt against regular Re.
pablicarism.
The La Toilette announcement for
the moment affects the Republicans
much less than the Democrats, for
President Coolidge is as good as nom
mated and no threat from La Fol-
fette will change the minds of the
already chosen delegates to the Cleve-
land convention. The Democrats
however. will be influenced by the
La Toilette decision to run indepen-
IDENTIFY. They cannot indorse La Fol
lette, as he processes to be Repub-
tican Would he indorse McAdoo:
II he intended to do so ne would
not be arranging to accept a nomi-
nation from his followers, who ex-
'nect to gather in Cleveland on July
to frame platform. La Toilette
who in 1917 was ostracised by his
colleagues in the Senate and who was
investigated for his speeches against
the war; now has become one of the
most powerful individuals in the
whole presidential campaign.
Copyright. 1924