San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
Triangular Contest Will
Throw Election in Con-
gress, Is Claim.
SAY IDEA IS ABSURD
Democrats Say Republicans
{. Like Drowning Man
E. Snatching at Straw.

= oSiu6 ZIG 6iiA PioSpcSI Va PiopouiC
defeat in the election this fall, Re
publican propagandists seeking some
ray of comfort have advanced the
suggestion that in the event of q
triangular contest - Democrats, Re
|publicans and LaFollettes-the choice
Iof president and vice president likely
will have to be determined by the
House of Representatives. Democratic
leaders ridicule the suggestion, deny
that it IL a probability and compare
1t to the straw being snatched at BY
the drowning man.
OF course there has been no definite
Rplans but the naneuverings of such
Iowa. and others clearly point to q
third party movement. Certainly
conditions never were brighter for
the ratification of Senator LaFol-
lette's ambition and it is equally GER
tain that if he doesn't someone else
will. Perhaps Senator Borah, and
that wouldn't please LaFollette
either.
Disclosures Hurt G. o. p.
But the probability of third party
movement doesn't Brighten the Demo-
Gratis, who look upon it as water on
their wheels, while it strikes con-
sternation to the hearts of Republi.
cans, particularly those of the "Grand
Oil Party" as Senator Helm has
dubbed them. The sensational disclos-
ures which have followed each other
thick and fast during the last three
months as a result of the several SEN
atorial probes form what everyone,
regardless of politics, admits will be
recorded in history as one of the most
shameful periods in American history
and, as a result the party in power,
the Republicans, as an organization,
are bound to suffer If, indeed, they can
survive.
Thus, even without q third party,
the Democratic prospects would be ex-
eeptionally bright but with the op-
position camp divided Democratic
leaders look upon victory as almost a
certainty. This is the view of Repre-
sentative Cordell Hull, Tennessee,
chairman of the Democratic national
committee, a sage and conservative
leader. Discussing the suggested
prospect of the House being called up
on to exercise its constitutional func-
ton to elect a president, Chairman
Hull said: .es 'Fetl's
Must Answer to Country.
II think it is a case of the wish
being parent to the thought. While
am confident the Democrats will
win the election this fall I am frank
TO say that we are not opposed to the
Third Party movement which is de-
veIopins among the Republicans. OF
course, I assume that if launched
Svery effort will be made to make 1t
appear as a bipartisan movement. 1t
il not improbable that some erst-
while Democrat may be induced to
take a place on such a ticket but the
bone and sinew Of this third party,
should it develop, will come from the
ranks of those who have heretofore
called themselves Republicans.
"The reason for this is plain.
warrant Democrat in deserving his
party. It's record, as party, is
above reproach and not a single culp-
able act has been shown against any
Democratic official, either in or out
of office. The Republicans however.
having been in power, cannot evade
the responsibility which is their and
the failure of the administration to
clean house. when the situation was
revealed, is thing for which it
must answer to the country.
Democrats Are Stronger.
"That will drive thousands and
thousands of Republicans into open
revolt and while too early to discuss
figures, am quite certain any third
party organized this year would draw
from 60 to 20 per cent of its strength
from the Republicans. At the very
most the former Democrats aligning
themselves with such movement
would not comprise more than 80 or
40 per cent of the total force-per-
sonally, doubt il they would amount
to 20 per cent.
~And then there is this distinction.
The Republicans cannot hope to win
votes from any quarter this year,
whereas they are bound to lose heav-
lily both TO any third party organized
as well as to the Democrats. In
fact am convinced that whatever
we may lose to a third party will be
far more than compensated by gains
directly made in conservative Re
publicans who feel their party is de-
serving OF rebuke.
.'Now where does this leave us? It
makes the Democrats overwhelmingly
strong in those states normally Dem
ocratic and the Republicans weakened
and divided in those states it usually
counts upon carrying. That is con-
dition very similar to the one exist
ing in 1912. In that year, If I re-
member correctly, President Taft car
ried exactly two states; Utah and
Vermont. Possibly President Coolidge
can do as we'll but l am not willing
to concede him either Of these states
at this time.
House Election Absurd.
"The Democratic party has grown
since 1912 and it has a record of
achievement. both in peace and war.
still fresh in the public mind So.
on the whole, ] don't think there need
be any apprehension that the election
will be thrown into the House. 1t
will be decided by the votes of a hun
and ten million people. not the 435
members Of the House"
Senator Joe T. Robinson. minority
leader in the Senate, is equally con-
fident that there is nothing to threat
en- an election by the House.
ats a DOGGY man." he said "raised
BY a few desperate Republican lead
ers, hoping against hope. and irving
to keep their lines from breaking.
They know they cannot win before
the people on the record they have
made but they feel they would have
a chance on the score Of marty regu-
larity If they could force the election
into the House. The Democrats. rs
always, are willing to submit their