The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-14
RIFFS IN THE Lutte

The third party, that isn't
third party, is singular mish-
mash, as Hugh Latimer and Mayor
Gaynor used to say, Of incongru-
Gus elements artificially and tenn
porarily held together. There is
such play of cross-purposes
among them: there are such alter
nate strains of opportunism and
fanaticism, of present and opposed
ultimate object in it, that only the
name progressive" so ironical in
view Of Mr. LaFollette's attitude
in 1912, unites this motley COM
Eany. Republicans like Senator
Ladd and Senator Frazier Of North
Dakota, who cling to Mr.. LaFol-
lette and yet remain, or say they
remain, in the Republican fold; a
Democratic Senator like Mr..
Wheeler, who takes the progress
sive" nomination for Vice Pres
ident yet works for the reelection
OF his Democratic colleague, Sen
ator Walsh, and for the Montana
Democratic ticket, add new wind
ines to the political maze.
Many Inconsistencies and COM
rlications must arise in many
States out of this curious and eS-
sentially insincere situation. The
Badger Boss has too many strings
II his bow. In Mr.. Wheeler's own
State an incident trivial enough in
itself, is not without instruction to
students of this rambling coali-
<;no M nauav nnrpon hoe hcon
appointed the Western Adminis-
traitor of Mr. LaFollette's political
fortunes. The Honorable Sam"
Ieagarden, a name to resOund for
ages, sWims into our ken as "a
probable candidate for United
States Senator on the ticket of the
LaFollette Progressive Party Of
Montana" Now wrath is directed
against the wretched. rash, intrud-
ing DOrman. who invaded Mon
tana, according to the Honorable
Sam" Teagarden, Eat the urge OF
Senator Wheeler to aid the candi-
dacy of Senator T. J. Walsh"
Such is the reward of Mr.. Wheel
er's ambidexterity. The Montana
LaFollette Progressive Party takes
a queer remedy for its grievances.
To punish Mr.. Wheeler for abet-
ting Democratic candidate for
Senator. the young party is trying
to substitute the name of the
Democratic nominee for Vice
President as Mr.. LaFollette's as
sociate. Representative Nelson.
Mr.. LaFollette's national cam
paign manager, disowns the too
independent anti Wheeler, anti
Dorman "progressives." The
Montana rw "is probably the work
Of some local organization which
has nothing to do with the nation
al LaFOllette campaign" The
Montana situation has been mud
died ';by people who have nothing
to do with our work" Such mud
ding is inevitable in the circum-
! stances. 1t isn't and won't be con-
fined to Montana. Other pro
gressive" foundlings will be LETT
on Mr. Nelson's doorstep.
In Nebraska the progressive"
State Central Committee has NOM
mated Dan" Butler, City Commits
sioner of Omaha. "a 100 per cent
, LaFollette man." for Governor,
and has called upon all candidates
whose names are on the "progres-
| sive" as we'll DIS the Republican or
Democratic ticket ito publicly de-
clare their advocacy of the cleo
ton of LaFollette and Wheeler Or
withdraw from the Progressive
| Party ticket" Senator Wheeler
can support Democratic candidates
in Montana. Only straight, un-
tainted. 100 per cent LaFollettians
need apply in Nebraska. The Pro-
gressive National Committee wants
to steer clear of State tickets
Some brethren in some States are
more enthusiastic and proscrip-
tive. IN such virtuous bosoms the
thought of swapping local fol
Presidential votes cannot arise
The interlapping and interplay OF
State and national elections are
usually hard to check. The heter-
ogeneous composition of the La
Toilette party makes numerous in
i. the sources of controversy and
division.-New York Times.