The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-08-12
LAFOLLETTE WAVES AS
VOTERS TAKE WAKE UP
OBSERVERS FIND NO RALLY
ING IN WEST OF MASSES TO
WISCONSIN SENATOR.
ENTHUSIASM MUCH DAMPENED
Socialist Endorsement and Better Crop
Prices Add to Third Party" Bur-
den. His "Wet" Views Also Hurts
The Independent Candidate.

SNNANNS~~NNs
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Stock-
taking of the LaFollette presidential
prospects tends to show decreasing
ly promising outlook, in the opinion
of those skilled in scanning the signs
of TIE political horizon
According to the views expressed
by political visitors in Washington
during the last week, after frst-hand
observation in number of the west
ern states, there is no indication of a
rallying of the masses to the LaFol-
lette standard On the contrary, the
unanimous view is that the earlier en-
thusiasm, widely heralded as existing
in those sections, has dampened ma
terially as a result of sober second
thought.
Under such conditions there are al
so to be considered the numerous
practical obstacles which lie in the
way of his aspirations.
OF nature not connected with
passing enthusiasm or dissatisfaction
is the traditional two-party system of
the nation, against which the pro-
gressive party, under much more APP
pealing leadership than that of the
Wisconsin senator, endeavored in vain
to make Roadway. Added to this is
the heavy handicap of the necessity
of building up new nation wide or
ganiZation to prosecute an effective
campaign, together with the very
practical accompaniment of getting
the funds to finance the new organiza-
ton. In this respect resources open
to both the republican and democratic
parties are not open to LaFollette.
Legal obstruction in many states
complicate the situation, it is pointed
out. In some he will be hampered in
getting his presidential electors on the
ballot and in others thousands of sig
natures are required to the petitions
to be filed.
Socialist Endorsement Harmful.
OF a deterrent nature in its effect
on the popularity of his campaign in
many quarters where he might other
wise have looked for a popular re-
spouse is his Endorsement by the So
cialists, which has effectually diverted
the support of many. The fact that
socialistic planks have been incorpo-
rated in the LaFollette platform and
that he has appointed socialists as
members of his campaign committee
further serves to ALLEVIATE much of the
progressive element that was inclined
to lean toward his candidacy.
Most important of recent conditions,
however, in stemming the drift of the
o-I h. I oE 70
ner is the steady rise in grain prices:
This has served to allay agricultural
unrest to which LaFollette has work
ed hard to convert into political cap
ital.
All reports reaching Washington
from the northwestern states are IN
dicative of pronounced change OF
sentiment as a result of the improved
agricultural outlook. The farmers OF
the northwest, it is asserted positively,
have halted short in their movement
toward the LaFollette band wagon,
and given consideration to the altered
economic situation, which is indicative
of a returning prosperity and which
earlier they had been inclined to hold
responsible for the agricultural de-
preston. =
Own Philosophy Proves Boomerang.
Unless LaFollette can carry the
Dakotas, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and
Minnesota, as we'll as Wisconsin, the
hopes of preventing the election of
Davis or Coolidge are practically frus-
trated. The psychological effect OF
this is important even among the con-
genitally dissatisfied IF LaFollette
can neither win nor destroy, why vote
for him?" is the question they are be-
ginning to ask themselves.
Still another handicap in the sec
tions where he expected to make his
heaviest winnings is the fact that La
Toilette is classed as "wet." Those
states are Overwhelmingly dry" and
the wet" argument is being used
against him effectively