Evening star., 1928-06-13
Politics at Large
BY C. Could Lincoln.

AlbcI bLiC ILeUuOlIIdiA llabOHuf NOAA-
vention--what2 A united party OF
boilers in the agricultural States OF
the Midwest and the Northwest, who
are opposed to the nomination OF Her.
bert Hoover? During the last week the
Hoover opponents have We'd with one
another in the extravaganza OF their
statements alleging that Mr.. Hoover
could not carry" Kansas. Iowa, North
Dakota, South Dakota, etc, against Al
Smith of New York. Now 1t appears
that Mr.. Hoover Is to be the selection
of the Republican national convention
for President. How far are these talk
ers prepared to go? Many Of them hold
Office In the Senate or House, or In the
State Legislatures, or are governors OF
States. They hold Office and owe the
Republican party their nominations and
elections to Office. If they bolt the
Republican ticket Of 1928, where are
they going?
Despite all the threats and the de-
featist talk against Hoover there is nc
real sign yet of a bolt from the con-
vention, or any TO form third party
Parties rarely spring up overnight
They must have leaders. They must
have money to finance campaigns and
above all, they must have principle
or principles for which to fight. The
Hoover opponents insist they stand FOR
agricultural relief. They insist that
this relief can come to them only IN
one form. the McNary- -Haugen bill, OF
its equivalent. Many of the farmers
In these United States are much OPP
posed to this legislation as is Presi-
dent Coolidge, who vetoed the bill
or Mr.. Hoover who disbelieves In the
principles underlying the measure
There is no assurance that a third
party movement with such legislation as
its main platform plank would have
majority support In some OF the farm
States.
When the late Senator Robert M
La Toilette of Wisconsin undertook to
head a third ticket four years ago
against President Coolidge, the nominee
of the Republican party, and the selec-
ton of the Democratic party, he was
supported not alone by the disgruntled
farmers of the Midwest and Northwest,
but by many of the strongest labor or
ganizations of the country, including
the railroad brotherhoods Senator La
Toilette. because of his long and faith
full service in his own State and in the
Senate. had a great personal following
throughout the country. nevertheless,
when the showdown came at the polls In
November La Toilette carried only a
single State out OF the entire 4S. his
own home State. wisconsin. So great
was his strength in Wisconsin that he
could have carried 1t whether he had
run as a Republican, Democrat or,
as he did, an independent.
In a measure, Senator George Norris
of Nebraska is regarded as the heir OF
the La Toilette Progressive leadership
in the Senate. If any public man Is
put forward as leader of third-party
movement In the West this year he
seems to be the logical choice. While
Senator Norris Is a sincere man, he Is
not inclined to tilt at windnills. In
deed. he has frequently said that he
does not take his candidacy seriously.
The majority OF the Nebraska delega-
ton is instructed for him. and so is a
majority of the Wisconsin delegation.
But there is a stable group Of dele
gates in both the Nebraska and Wis
consin delegations to the Republican
convention who are opposed to Norris
and favorable to the administration
and to Mr. Hoover. who must be re-
garded as the administration candidate.
4
The Republicans have a gift for get
ting together after nominations have
been made. Even now, with the Hoover
nomination impending. many OF his OPP
ponents are beginning to soft-pedal talk
of revolt and bolt In the coming CAM
paign. They are Republicans and they
intend TO take I'D the burden Of carry
ing the fight against the Democratic
foe In their own States. Many Of them
will be seeking office themselves on the
same Republican ticket with Mr.. Hoo
yer, II he Is finally nominated. The
possibility of some of the aTlti-Hoover
leaders at Kansas City boiling the Pc.
publican ticket next November -Sena-
tors Curtis OF Kansas. Watson of In
diana and Gon Of West Virginia, for
example--seems little short OF absurd.
They are not talking of It, Prom
North Dakota comes some suggestion
that third party may be established
In the West If Hoover Is the nominee
of the Republicans and Al Smith of
the Democrats. Senator Gerald r.
Nye OF North Dakota has maintained
such a possibility. but has given no
definite assurance that real bolt win
UiateTtaIlZe.
&*
Senator William e. Borail Of Idaho.
recognized as a leader of Progressive
thought, has declared his support OF
MIR. Hoover for the nomination. In
deed. he has released his own Idaho
delegation. which was instructed to
vote for him for the presidential nomi-
nation AT one time Senator Borah.
as a leading member OF a Progressive
GROUP formed AZ the opening of the
last session Of Congress declared him.
self for the nomination OF Senator
Norris. But he has never been strong
" opposed 10 Hoover, and. indeed, has
leaned TO him since earlv In the pre-
convention cempaign Hoover after
all " REGARDED by millions as "Progres-
s've." That Is o.e reason some IT the
standpat Republican leaders OF the
EAST have been opposed to him.
II
II the sponsors of the McNary- -Haugen
ialni 1ia ste Isaily nteA1 up1al .au,l, Al .
HIS u s4iIfu parry nlUVenIeii., 10 Wnum
~@Aaa tney niJfe IogIIaIIy tu4n ,nan 70
FIsl@ -. L0waGn "a illinois! but Mr.
LoWaen has Deen Itepuolican slnce
ms early Gays. 30 far there has bean
not the slightest indication that Low
aen Wolld nc willing TO mead an inue-
pendent ticket. His election as an In
dependent would, II Is well understood
De impossible. 1hat he could do as well
as Senator La Toilette In the last cam
paign and election Is extremely doubt
tul. There Is one significant fact In
the talk OF ballot ana the organization
OF a third party. Senator Robert M.
La Toilette, Jr.. Of Wisconsin Is taking
no part In IL. He went through the
last campaign as the trusted lieutenant
OF hls father lie knows something oil
the trials and tribulations OF an In
dependent national ticket, with no party
organization established In the various
States.
-
What happens to Ware now? The
Senator-elect from Pennsylvania, whose