Milford chronicle., 1924-08-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial to Milford CbronicIe1

I'd concerned over the caprices of the market fo
/ farm products 1t is said in many quarters tina
g the yield of the soil and the demand for the pro
d ducts holds the key to the formation of a thir,
II party. The increasing complexity of politica
n conditions continues to battle even the most as
W tute politicians who realize that public opinion
u is profoundly interested and divided on the
S chances of third party getting a permanent
foOthOld after the November elections.
The formal notifications to the prospective
= candidates of their nomination for the Presiden-
S cy revives partisan interest in platforms and
% resolutions of intentions. Impartial observers
are unanimous in their declaration that it would
be folly to predict the outcome of the autumn
elections at this early stage of the contest. Pol
itical leaders are cOgnizant of the necessity of
stimulating party activity on the great questions
of the day and familiarizing the voter with the
party commitments. Always sensible of the lin
itations of the people these party leaders do not
intend to wait for human nature to change but
revise their own institutions to fit human nature
AS one thoughtful leader stated recently, There
is no hope in putting a square collar on a horse
and then condemning the horse for failure to
grow a square neck"
The claim was advanced in many quarters that
govern the rise of a third party. The political
dopesters say that third party must have its
nucleus in a separation of the two major par
ties, and it now resolves itself into the question
as to which campaigner will suffer the heaviest
numerical losses in the popular vote. Republican
leaders have argued lately that the upward re-
vision of wheat, corn and hog prices in the Mid
die West will strengthen their position and dis
| fov
change The Democratic and Progressive lead |
ers insist that these eleventh hour changes in |
the economic structure are not at all convincing
However, there is always perspective in poll
tics.
In the discussions of the third party movement |
here and in other cities it has been brought out
that LaFollette hopes to make strong showing
in the fall and then build up a permanent party
on his theory of state. A third party movement
sometimes implies that the followers discard the
other groups on the ground that their platforms
represent outworn and obsolete ideas of politi-
cal thought, which is not exactly true in this
case. 1t has been said that this new movement
would be patterned after the British labor party
in it's legislative program but conditions here
and in England are vastly different and such a
plan would necessarily be modified to insure its
acceptance by any large body of voters.
Those who have studied the political systems
say that the independent voter has some difficult
ty in the registry of his intentions under the
present balloting system. There are four types
of Presidential ballots in use in 46 states which
even results in widespread confusion as the
methods prescribed vary. LaFollettes managers
have hopes of capitalizing on split tickets but
splitting ballot involves risk of error and loss
Of votes. 1t is this lack of understanding which
makes the straight ticket the easiest method of
5oting, and, it is said strengthens the two major
PARTIES
While the campaign has not yet reached the
tage where personalities are banded about in
political discussions it is interesting to note that
II parties are giving their attention to insuring
heavy vote at the fall elections. In every 10
ality speakers endeavor to awaken the citizens
interest in the government and those who want
he highest office in the gift Of the people. Just
ow they are hardpressed in devising methods
Or the enlightenment of potential voters 1t
as been said that just the multitude needs
'aders to inspire them and to think for them so
'aders need the great mass of sensible, we'll 1
mentioned followers to keep them in check.
James Brice former Ambassador to Great &
ritain, and a recognized authority on American II
story, declared that mo leader party. no 8
gisative, can ever ruin a State while the great
Ddy of Average Citizens, the better educated,
Id the less educated, taken together continue to (
aintain high level of public spirit and prac-
,al good sense" n
Those who have analyzed the existing state of u
ings have reported to the various Washington
adquarters that the most retarding factor is In
dolence to civic duty and indifference to public 3
airs. The apathy of the citizen has aroused po- k
ical leaders in various communities to such =
extent that they have formed "get-Out-the- IQ
te" clubs in which party workers are asked to "
rye as missionaries m
The question of the tariff has cropped up again J
time when everybody believed that it was M
issue we'll on its way outside of politics. 1t Ik
apparent that the present Tariff Commission q
Il be reorganized because of the difference of k
nion existing in the Commission. Other Gov "
lment departments functioning as usual, ffl
ng for the time, outside the realm of politics. "
rhaps an exception may be made in the case N
the War Department, which has become in IN
we'd in political discussion as to the neces- ~
Y and ultimate effects of a National Defense 10
7. The attitude of Governor Bryan in con- ~
ming the plan of mobilization has developed m
rp conflicts in various parts of the country. N