Evening star., 1924-05-07
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER

ieepuU1lcan national convention re-
main to be chosen. Wyoming, West
Virginia, Texas, Oregon and Mime
sofa Will speak during May, the last
primaries being held May 81. The
game is up-in fact, il has been up
for several weeks; the ball is over
and the country knows the result.
Political speculation now hinges
upon the possible and prospective
course Of Senator Hiram w. Johnson
OF California and the trouble he may
desire to make and can make. He
has in his hands vast potentiality for
good Or evil to his party; what will
he do with it?
x K 4 4
The major opinion among politi-
clans is that he will not walk out of
the convention, for there seems no
occasion for his actually boiling the
convention. The pre-convention con-
test has been fair fight. He has
not been steam-rollered at any stage
of the game, and he will be treated
with all consideration at Cleveland
if he goes to the convention.
Not much opportunity viii be pre-
Sented for future unfavorable public
CTllltiSIh ol lIt upHllDdII element III
the Republican party except through
the issuance Of statements or unless
he should take the chautauqua stump.
x 4
But what he could do, the politi-
clans say. would be to bide his time
until the Democrats make their nom
ination. and until it is seen which
way the cat hops in a possible third
party movement, then swing over to
either the Democratic or third-party
candidate and call upon the progress
sives and his own followers TO come
along.
He could make serious trouble in
that way, ii is pointed out, because
that would enable him to take the
stump and get the peoples ear. When
the possibility of the presidential
election being thrown into Congress
is being seriously considered the po-
iitical effect of Senator Johnson and
his followers possibly leaving the
Republican party must be taken into
account
Preparations for the national con-
vention of the Farmer-Labor party
in st. Panl June II are going rapidly
ahead. This convention will be an
effort to get together discontented
groups from all over the country.
The disposition among Democrats
and Republicans, however, is TO doubt
it's success. Prediction is made that
it Will break up in row over in
ability to compose so many conflict
ing shades of opinion
X Z !;
There is a big row on in Tammany
over the selection of a successor TO the
late Charles +. Murphy as the leader
Of the organization, which is compli-
Gated by the charge that Mayor Hylan
is acting for William 4. Hearst in op-
posing Gov. Alfred +. Smiths suG-
eestion Of Surrogate James A. Foley
for the place. Surrogate Foley has
been heSitaIing about taking the posi-
ton of leader. His health is said 10
be precarious and the leadership job
is arduous and responsible.
Mayor Hylan seized the opportunity
presented by Surrogate Foiey hesi-
fancy TO throw n money wrench into
thu. organization machinery by oppos-
ing Gov Smiths suggestion of Surro-
gate Foley. 1t is the voice of Hylan
but the hand of Hearst asserts the
powerful New York World. TO which
Mayor Hylan retored, Bunk"
AcQuiescence in Mayor Hylan's op-
position would mean Hearst victory
claim the old-ine Tammany men, and
this might compiicate Gov. Smith, s
presidential prospects. 1t is well
known that a bitter feud exists be-
tween the governor and Mr.. Hearst
The situation is of more than local
Importance in it's possible bearing upon
strong.
'1s Senator La Toilette going to head
q third-party movement" That is the
question agitating both Democrats and
Republicans. No one can answer it but
the senator himself, and for the pres
ent at least, like Brer' Rabbit, ~he
Law low and say nothin'.'
But some of his friends back home
are not so reticent. In an address
before the Young Mems Progressive
Association of the State of Wisconsin,
at Madison May 6. State Treasurer
Solomon Levitan urged the necessity
of the nomination of Senator La
Toilette for the presidency by the
Republican party as the regular candi-
date of the Republicans. He IS a
delegate at large to the Republican
national convention.
His address does not breathe any
threat of a revolt by the senator or
his followers. but suggests warning
against the steam-roller tactics in the
convention
x = *
-Steam-roller tactics" said State
Treasurer Levitan, "in the national
convention will be of no avail. Steam
roller methods have put it over on
the people before, but they will not
always put it over This time the
people want a man, not party pawn.
America wants a real leader, a man
big enough to bring us all together,
a man who can bring order out Of
chaos Glass has been arrayed
against class Our nation is torn
with strife and dissenslon. Medieval
race hatreds have broken out; blind
prejudice has stalked hand in hand
with the red menace of unrest and
revolt
"America needs a man like La Fol-
lette to rid this country of these un-
American influences, to relieve the
economic burdens of the people, to
set up a clean and stable government
in which the people can once more
have faith
continue to represent the American
people at Washington, they must
give the people p leader to whom
they can rally, a man whom they can
trust That man is Robert NJ. La
Toilette"
Upon reflection, the thought oc-
ours that Mr.. Levitan's apprehension
of possible steam-roTler methods in
the convention is a little far-fetched.
There will be no need to fire up the
famed and justly celebrated
steam roller for this convention. The
Republican voters have forestalled
any such necessity. BY a verdict but
little short of unanimous they have