The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-03-28
THIRD PARTY?

THIRD PARTY?
According to all signs, the Presidential
campaign of 1886 is likely to make that of
1932-which was considered exceptionally
bitter-look like tea party. Issues are
forming, forces are appearing, that are en-
tirely unprecedented in American politics.
1t seems inevitable that there will be a
third party in the field--and it seems equal
ly inevitable that that party will be of the
extreme left. 1t may be led by Huey Long,
backed by Father Coughiin. and use as its
appeal the every Man King" thesis. It
may be led by a Townsend Plan advocate,
promising prosperity for all through govern
mental largesses to the aged. 1t may be led
by someone who stands Fer something we
haven't yet heard of.
Few think that the third party candi-
date would Win-the Electoral College sys-
tenn of counting votes for the Presidency
makes that practically impossible as Roose-
welt the first discovered, and as LaFollette,
the elder did after him. The third party's
Importance lies in what effect it will have
on the vote obtained by the regular Repub-
lican and Democratic party candidates-and
therein is an opportunity for endless con-
lecture.
Backers of the President pooh-pooh the
third party, say he is certain to win sweep
ing victory in '36 whether the movement ma
terializes or not. Opponents of the President
hold that the third party would draw millions
of votes that would otherwise go to Mr..
Roosevelt, would thus Indirectly cause the
election of a conservative Republican, who
would have support of most business men, to-
gether with the party's establisher following.
1t was that aspect of the question which
General Johnson spoke on in his amazing
speech of fortnight ago. Whatever you
thing of the Generals views, you have to
admit he has courage he isn't afraid to speak
his mind In his speech, he made a bitter at
tack on Long and Coughlin and all they
stood for. Then he turned and dashed the
conservatives who might encourage them in
order to draw support away from Roosevelt
and split the liberalradical camp. General
Johnson said that such political opportun-
ism pushes the American democracy steadily
toward "a licking or dictator" It is an in
teresting fact that, following the speech, the
Generals views were heartily endorsed in
many substantial quarters including news
papers, public men and industrialists.
A question of the hour is, How does Mr..
Roosevelts strength compare to what it was
a year ago? The answer, made by boiling
down the opinion of legion of observers, is
that he is slipping that he still has the
confidence of the bulk of the voters. That,
of course, doesn't answer the question of
how far he may slip-or have regained or
ssNNSa oeAVAi6eAt-Oy ACAC ySa1. AAdC, III
is going to depend ON the state of recovery.
At the present time, the recovery pro-
gram has failed in various important partic-
ulars-and, in addition, it has become con-
fused with the reform program. Unemploy-
ment scars. More people are on relief than
ever before. Industry is sitting still. and
many leaders seem pessimistic. A belief is
prevalent that the Presidents program has
lost direction-that it is whirling around in
circles, is going nowhere.
It is that fact which supports the hopes
of third party radicals-they feel that the
people, if they see the failure of more mod
crate program, will go for one that is really
leftwing. And the conservatives, strangely
enough, base their hopes on exactly the same
thing-they believe that Roosevelt collapse
would send voters scurrying back to the
right-wing of economic thought.
What is right? Guess as much as you
ike-but don't bet on it.