Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-15
Washington
Letter
DENATURED CAMPAIGNS PROB
ABLE THIS YEAR
n EhnpI.1 ~ Stewart

-
WASHINGTON, June l5.-Cow-
ardice is generally recognized as the
great weakness Of our two major
political parties OF today.
Our get-out-the-vote enthusiasts
make a tremendous to-do about the
celebrates indifference, but neglect
% say anything about the useless
ness Of casting a ballot which means
substantially the same thing which
ever way its cast.
Five or six months Z there real
IN seemed to BE- promise OF a cam
paign in which some lines would be
drawn. More recently. with the con
ventions impending and the politi-
clans getting scared. the party man
agements on both sides have been
working overtime at the job of de-
Maturing evcrything-and 50 success
fully that it appears unlikely any
reasonably probable presidential
nominee will signify much-not ven
as a personality, fer you can't re-
spect a s~traddler, whoever he il.
So the question arises-whv isn't
il a good time for a third ticket
which does mean something-and for
which there have been hints Of an
increasing demand.
The painful answer iS-as soon MS
a so-callcd independent makes his
! appearance, he becomes a straddler,
too.
He's afraid 70 take any position al
all for fear IL will be too advanced.
He's afraid to say anything. because,
even though he may win a few votes
BY saying ii. he's afraid he'll lose
still more.
There was n third party CONVEX
ton III Cleveland in 1924, which !
saw myself, and heard.
IL was advertised as a gathering of
the broadcast political catholicity. All
advanced elements were urged 10 be
represented. II was recognized that
the majority would have to rule. but
everybody was TO be heard.
The Wisconsin progressives we're
present in a body-Henrik Shipstcad,
farmer-labor senator; Victor Berger,
socialist congressman; Pete Witt,
single taxer-
Up from among the delegates rose
a rough-looking Euy-"Mister Chair.
mann resonant tones-"I speak
for the I. w. w."
Instantly strong hands closed or
the scruff Of that Wobbly's neck ana
the seat Of his pants. and out On the
lake front he landed-"Finish your
speech there"
| talked with him. He wasn't \
bad chap. "All wanted" ne assured
me, was a voice"
Back in Washington, in an execu.
tive news capacity ut the time.
sent a reporter 10 sec the late Sen.
ator LaFollette, the third grou3':
presidential nominee.
Among other things, the senator
declared himself what's currentl,
known as a wet"
A little later telephone bells wer,
ringing for me all over town. Tn.
senator must see me at once.
failed TO me with him personal
", but | did see his son-"youn
Bob" then his secretary, now him
self a senator.
In his own good time sale
young Bob" my father intends 1,
declare himself on prohibition, bu.
now would be premature. He OK
pressed himself inadvertently"
So ! choked IL off. The senator,
own good time" never came. Pro
hinition wasn't an issue" in NJ,
campaign. Too many progressive,
are drys. Too many are vets. too
The senator was honest--I don't diS
pute it-but he was a politician also
How can q third party ticket ~,
anywhere, or a major party tickei
get anything but a ~perfunctory vote
without a candidate who has ~,
nerve 70 stand patti