The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-03-01
Third Party
Rumblings

only the subject OF a guess-politics
being what they are-but interesting
circumstances can be noted as of this
day and time.
Third party rumblings are beginning
10 be heard along the whole political
front This is noteworthy because
third party rumblings usually are con-
fined 70 a few sectors, some important,
some unimportant The insurgents,
radicals, progressives. and independ-
enCs all seem 10 be examining the po-
Ircal horizons OF 1886 Roughly.
those factions enumerated have been
classified as the sons of the wild jack
ass an appellauOn given them by
George 81. Moses Of New Hampshire,
when he was filing a Republican seat
in the United States senate. The fact
thar they remain and that Mr. Moses
has passed out Of the political picture
is not the point. II was his descrip-
ton OF them that gave the country its
first grouping Of the political factions
that have consistently kicked over the
traces Of the major political parties
The fact that these various groups
are again examining the potentalities
and the possibilities Of 1886 brings d.
rectly into question the progress made
by the New Deal in its program Of
reformation or revolution, depending
on the political perspective from
which you consider the New Deal
II is two years since President
Roosevelt carried his New Deal into
the White House. Much water has
gone over the dam since. Many ex-
periments have been tried and many
have failed Doubtless considerable
progress Of a satisfactory form has re-
suited. Yet. the sons of the wild
iackaSs" are IT satisfied. II may
be because Mr.. Roosevelt has ceased
10 pull so many white rabbits out OF a
hat after the fashion OF a magician.
that has caused unafiliated factions
so much disturbance. Or il may be
because the Republicans. as the op-
position party ar present have been
utterly stymied in their efforts 70 per-
form opposition functions that have
proved the temptation for the sO-called
left wingers 70 capitalize whatever
political opportunities remain for ex-
ploitariOn.
l think IL is the general conclusion
that the New Deal has not come up TO
expectations Of the left wingers. Per-
hapS. il might be said that nothing
that the New Dealers can offer viii be
quite satisfactory 20 the left wingers.
for they are difficult TO satisfy. Their
fertile minds are even more produc-
tive of experimental ideas than are
the minds even Of the brain trusters.
and no one has ever said brain trust
mind was not fertile. At any rate. the
circumstance is cut and dried and an
abundance Of material for a third
party awaits Us by that type Of politi-
clan
Observers here agree that one can
not consider the outlook for 1886. and
the national elections Of that time,
without considering the influence that
these left wingers may WELD. I be
Ieye il is conceded everywhere that
II Mr.. Roosevelt succeeds in leading
the country through 10 a higher level
OF prosperity than now graces our for
tunes the Republican chances 10 de-
feat him are very, very low. If, on
the other hand, conditions continue as
they now are, Mr.. Roosevelt certainly
is going TO have 10 battle this progress
sive set-up-to adopt one label for all
of them-as well as the conservative
group centering largely in the Repub-
licans. From this il becomes plain
that third party probably would
draw away from Mr.. Roosevelt all Of
those radicals and liberals who would
go beyond his policies, while the Re
publicans obviously viii hold their
own conservative strength and sap the
Roosevelt forces TO some extent BY
taking conservative Independents from
that side All in all, if the third party
idea comes through. we can look for
fine political scramble from July TO
November Of the 1886 campaign.
The progreSsives, including such men
as LaFollette OF Wisconsin. Norris of
Ne ska. and
Need Hero Wheeler of Montana.
Leader 10 name only three,
seem 10 feel that the
New Deal program has about jeHed.
They know. as all political observers
know, that there are q good many hun
dred thousand votes scattered around
waiting 10 be cast in favor Of a pro-
gram much more radical than that TO
which Mr.. Roosevelt has been willing
70 PM ha
s distinct problem Of their own. II is
an entire absence of an outstanding
leader Of the hero type who can sound
the trumpet and call for the progress
Sives 10 follow me-" Ny inquiries
among all veins of political opinion
aave given me no clue 10 the name OF
an individual who can head I'D the
movement As ! said above. however.
results cannot be predicted now and
one must add 10 that statement also
that one cannot guess ar the leadership
Of this new movement because II viii
have 70 iell further before that leader
ship appears on the horizon.
II is even possible that these cur
rent third party rumblings viii mean
no more than they have in many cases
in the past This is true because there
is not q Theodore Roosevelt in sight
at the moment and some astute politi-
clans insist there is not one in the
country. If q man OF the late Teddy's
type and qualities should come to the
surface then probably this third party
movement would develop into fornid-
able proportions. II one does not show
I'D. 1 do not see how the progressives
viii be any more in 1885 than the scat
ra-ad FRAGMENTS Of 60zan-a5d r.o,;.