Evening star., 1924-12-13
Third Party Considerations.

Decision by the executive commit
tee of the Conference for Progressive
Political Action to call a national con-
vention at Chicago February 25 does
not necessarily mean that third
party will be definitely organized.
This action Is really in accordance
with the call of the convention held
in July at Cleveland. which nomi-
mated Senator La Toilette for Presi-
dent. Yet there was a considerable
opposition in the executive commit
tee to carrying out this mandate. Sig
nificantly, this opposition came mainly
from the representatives of the rail
road labor organization which had
been foremost in support of La Fol-
lette and in the backing of the third
party Of the past campaign. This in.
dicates that organized labor will not
generally join third party movement
II the Chicago convention should de-
eide upon organization. On the other
hand, the Socialist elements repre-
sented at yesterdays conference
strongly favored the formation Of a
third party. Thus a divergence ap.
pears between, organized labor and the
Socialists.
Numerically, the votes cast for La
Toilette at the recent election might
encourage the elements opposed to the
two ajor parties to hope for con-
tinued support from the people in case
a definite organization were under
taken. But it is evident that a large
percentage of that vote was the re-
suit of dissent from the Democratic
ticket incident to the disappointments
caused By the Madison Square Garden
convention. 1t was not in the East, at
least, a genuine. lasting third party
expression. In the West the La Fol
lette vote was a grievous disappoint-
ment to the promoters of his candi-
dacy. He carried only one State.
whereas at least seven were conf
IDENTIFY expected, and at one time 1t
was claimed that he would carry
enough States to deadlock the cleo
toral college. Although Endorsed by
the American Federation of Labor. he
did not get the dominating support
of organized labor. Although appeal.
ing to the farmers, he did not get the
support of the agriculturists. Not one
of the farm States of the West voted
, for him.
OF the four and a quarter million
votes which appeared to have been
cast for La Toilette in November
more than one million were polled in
three Eastern States, New York.
Pennsylvania and Ohio, in which there
is little, II any, chance of successful
third party organization. In 10 of the
Western States, California, Idaho,
Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota,
Oregon, South Dakota, Washington,
Wisconsin and Wyoming, the La Fol
lette vote exceeded that cast for Davis.
That alone Is the basis for encourage
ment for third party organization.
But the electoral votes OF these States
total only enough to give third party
possible blockading force. All of
these are normally Republican States.
In the late election only one Of them
was carried by the third party. A
full coalition of La Toilette and Davis
votes in them would have made. the
race close through failure Of an cleo
toral majority. -.
Analysis of the November 4 vote
leaves but small encouragement for
third party organization. The atti-
tude of the railroad brotherhoods
lessons the chance of securing the
support Of organized labor. The re.
fusal of the Western farmers to fol-
low cuts off an important factor of
support. All these considerations will
be- taken into account at the. Chicago
cola entfor.
Archeoloeists of this country can