Evening star., 1935-08-11
COALITION PARTY BY 1896
UNLIKELYTO MATERIALIZE
Leadership to Inspire Mass Expression
Held Lacking-Democratic Split
Main Threat to Roosevelt.

these local organizations compose the
mass Of each party.
The net of it all is that a coalition
party is not likely. 1t could only come
about through leadership not now
active in either party, and by an
immense amount of work and organi-
zation. A coalition party would be
the wholesome and direct way of
making the issue clear and enabling
the country to vote on it intelligently
But a coalition party can only come
about through an immense amount
of hard work done by able and self
sacrificing men. Such an effort is
not now in sight.
Democrats May Divide
A formal coalition of the Repub-
lican party with conservative Demo-
Gratis is not probable. But an inde-
pendent party, made Up mainly of
Democrats opposed to the New Deal,
seems quite possible. Some activity
toward organizing it is already under
way. But here again the movement,
for its leadership, must look toward
men not now holding ofdce, as Demo-
Gratis, and not expecting to. A Demo-
crat in Office and expecting to remain
in, must stay within his party organi-
Zation.
The ablest critic of the New Deal
ir the whole country is Democratic
Senator Carter Glass CT Virginia. Mr..
Glass must go before mis- State for
reelection next year. 1t is just not
practicable for him to make his cam
paign other than WITHIN the Demo-
cratic organization in his State. Doubt
less Virginia would want to return
Mr. Glass to the Senate if he were
running on any ticket, Or alone on a
ticket of his own. Bu. the only exist
ing mechanism through which to elect
him is the Democratic organization in
his State 1t simply is not practicable
to set up a new organization.
What is said of Senator Glass ap-
plies to other Democrats in Office and
expecting to be reelected. There are
many Democrats in Senate and House,
and Governors of States, to whom the
New Deal is repugnant, who IN the
Senate and elsewhere frequently speak
and vote against essential parts OF it.
Such Democratic Senators, in addition
to Glass of Virginia, aIe Tydings of
Maryland, Gore of Oklahoma, Bailey
of North Carolina. But if these men
are to remain in public life and be
reelected when their terms expire, 1t
is not feasible for them formally to
divorce themselves from the Demo-
cratic party as an organization. These
men cannot be the leaders to organize
an independent Democratic party. The
movement must come from Democrats
whose office-holding days are past,
and from others who do not care
whether they ever mold Office. An
American named Nathan Hale once
made himself a hero and tradition
by saying My only regret is that I
have but one life to lose for my coun-
try" There are few men holding pub
lie Office who will say My only regret
is that have but one political career
to lose for my country
Ritchie Potential Leader.
ouG L uO IlOG IIlCdIl W OC CJIllCdl IL
an independent Democratic party is
to be formed, the work must be done
by Democrats who are not in the midst
of their political careers within the
regular Democratic party. There are
many such men, Ex-Gov. Albert G.
Ritchie of Maryland, former Demo-
cratic Secretary of State Bainbridge
Colby. ex-Gov. Alfred E. Smith Of
New York, former Democratic PreSi-
Dental Nominee John w. Davis, ex-
Gov. Ely of Massachusetts, former
Democratic Secretary of War in Wood
row Wilson's cabinet, Newton D.
Baker. From leadership by some of
these perhaps, or men like them. the
independent Democratic party is
likely to come. Much depends on how
clearly men like this realize the des-
tination toward which the country is
being taken, and how deeply they are
moved.
An independent Democratic party
would get much of its strength from
the silent benediction of active Demo-
Gratis. Democrats holding Office, like
Senator Glass, for example, cannot
afford to lead bolt from the party.
He will be running for reelection and
the only practicable way for him is to
run within the existing, regular Demo-
cratic organization. But Senator Glass
will never stultify himself. Even
though running on ticket of which
the head is Mr.. Roosevelt, Senator
Glass cannot possibly make a speech
or speak word indorsing Mr.. Roose-
velt. Senator Glass will be silent, and
his silence will be eloquent. And many
others only less eminent than Sena-
tor Glass will be silent with him.
An independent Democratic ticket
would be fatal to Mr.. Roosevelt. It
would not elect its candidates and
might not get more than a small
percentage of the total vote. In 1896,
when the situation was similar to the
approaching one, when William Jen-
ningS Bryan seized the regular Demo-
cratic party and ran for President
on a "free silver" ticket, and when
the conservative Democrats, the gold
Democrats" put up a ticket of their
own, the ticket got only 133,148 votes
out of total of 1923, ,1O2.
The effect of an independent Dem
ocratic ticket organized by conserva-
tives next year would not be measured
by the vote cast for it. Much of its
effect would consist of the convincing
notice 1t would give to conservative
Democrats that, from their point of
view, reelection of Mr.. Roosevelt Is
undesirable. Many of these would
vote, not for the independent Demo-
cratic candidate, but for the Repub-
lican one. So far as that goes, many
orthodox Democrats will vote the Re
publican ticket next year anyhow.
Copyright. 1895, New York Tribune, IncJ