Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-07
THE THIRD PARTY

=, There are many things for which
congressman would like to spend
money, the public's money. to please
the public of course. The public
expects them to get while the get
ting Is good. Bringing home the
bacon is a phrase understood even
by the school children. of such
common use has It been for many
years. To get this all sorts of
expedients are resorted to, the bloc
system of log TROLLING being OF recent
development.
The public was said to have been
greatly incensed because Newberry,
for instance, was supposed to have
spent a lot OF money to secure cleo
ton as a Senator. 1t has been sug-
gested that this was his money, 1t
wasn't the Governments. And the
question has been asked, which is
the more honorable. to spend ones
own money to be elected to Office or
to spend the Governments money
for this or that appropriation in the
hope Of securing a reelection. There
Ia a law against the Newberrys but
there is none against the bloc dick
erer, the patronage purveyor who
spends indirectly the tax payers
money for reelection.
When the bloc, for any reason
fails to satisfy ambitions there al
ways is the possibility of forming a
third or a fourth political party.
This, however, has usually been
where the ambitious have over
reached themselves. 1t Is but fair to
presume that Senator LaFollette,
right now, Is debating within him.
self methods for promoting his third
party venture this fall. The returns
,of the primary indicate that his grip
.on Wisconsin Is yet strong. He
dominates at present the situation
in-Congress. This is to the i'm
mediate profit OF LaFollette's pur-
poses. He would, 1t is believed, like
to continue such n condition of af-
fairs where. as now. he could swing
strength enough, first to one side
and again to another to prevent
legislation and to insist on other
legislation, such as government
ownership or management in place
Of private ownership and manage
ment wherever possible.
IE appears that promoters OF the
third party movement have no ex-
pectation of carrying the country
this next election but base their
hope on carrying three states and
helping Democrats to carry several
others, formerly in the Republican
column. They do not wish to deal
with large Democratic majority.
They would have the margin small
as thereby the game of manipulating
the balance of power would be pos
sible. Through such manipulation
4 share in patronage and ability to
falten the radical power to some
extent could be accomplished. 1t
might be possible to overthrow
seniority rule in the makeup of
committees and so throw affairs into
confusion in which every congress-
man would be jockeying with other
congressman for position; a difficult
role but one for which LaFollette
Is fitted by experience and inclina-
ton. 1t will need no party conven-
ton. Those fostering the scheme
will 60 on as ~ present making
trouble for the other parties and
jokeying for position.
.~efanifestly IL they have to deal
only with the timid. with those who
hesitate to take stand for fear Of
losing some support, who are
obscsscd with the idea that Con-
gress was formed for the division
!. PRO rata OF the spoils among the
victors and not for the country's
business. not to support definite
policies and principles. LaFollet-
usm will thrive and the country
correspondingly suffer. Then the
blame will come home to roost. for
we, the people. choose those to rep
resent us and IL we keep them they
do represent us: IL we insist that
they play the game for the bacon no
one can expect them long to do
otherwise.