Evening star., 1936-11-30
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY C. GOULD LINCOLN.

party, Is creeping from some quarters q
belief that the country should not be
allowed to go without q conservative
party. This does not mean reactionary
party. Far from 1t. 1t means q party
that will stand for conservative ideas in
matters OF concentration Of power in
Washington, in expenditures Of Govern
ment funds. In the independence Of the
judiciary and the courts and in in
dividual liberty of action. 1t does not
mean party that Is opposed to all
social" legislation, but rather party
that will favor such legislation where
1t Is wise and not calculated to kill in
dividual initiative. The talk has been of
building the Republican party again
along more advanced lineS-almoSt along
the lines OF the Roosevelt New Deal.
How many of the 100000 voters who
supported Landon in the recent election
such q move will please is a conundrum.
Certainly not all Of them by wide
margin. Furthermore. 1t Is questionable
shat the country will be benefited by
having two major political parties think
ing along almost exactly similar lines.
One thing that might, indeed. stimu-
late the formation of a conservative
party in this country would be the Or
ganization Of strictly labor party, with
radical leanings. II the dreams OF John
L. Lewis, head of the c. I. O.: Sidney
Hillman and others in the labor move
ment. looking to labor party, or per-
haps farmer-labor party, OF national
scope. come true, they are likely to give
impetus to a party on the conservative
side. In that event. organized labor
might find itself in minority position,
politically. Many labor leaders in the
past have visualized just such an out
come to the formation Of labor party
In American politics, and some Of them
still do.
There will be a tremendous drive to
organize labor from top to bottom
through the country during the next
year. Primarily this drive will be di-
rected to advance the economic inter-
ests Of labor, to obtain for the workers
higher wages, shorter hours OF work and
better working conditions. A corollary.
however. will be political unity, If the
ideas of some Of the leaders are car
ried out. John l.. Lewis, president Of
the United Mire Workers of America
and also head of the c. l. O., has never
indicated that he is or will be a candi-
date for President. But q number of
persons have attributed such an ambition
to him. He has shown himself dynamic
leader. II a labor party is formed he
might we'll be its choice for the presi-
dency. Mr.. Lewis, however. has still to
settle his differences with william Green
and the American Federation Of Labor.
If the forces Of organized labor remain
bitterly divided, any chance that Mr..
Lewis might have for going to the White
House appear decidedly slim.
In West Virginia Lewis power, po-
liticaliy as well as with labor. is great.
The United Mine Workers there have
proved themselves a force in politics.
Lewis, because Of his influence with
labor and the backing he might receive
from the State Federation Of Labor as
well as the United Mine Workers. might
go to the Democratic National Conven-
ton in 1910, it is said. with the West
Virginia delegation in his pocket. If
there is a national labor party he would
surely have the West Virginia delega-
tion with him, and probably the dele
cations from a number Of other States.
Lewis might find, however. that he is
not available as a candidate for the
Democratic presidential nomination.
Charles Brooks Smith. Washington cor
respondent for the Wheeling Intelli-
gencer. writing for his newspaper, sug-
gests that Lewis, in that event. might
throw his support to Senator Mathew
Mansfield Nicely, who has just been re-
elected. Nicely has always been a strong
Nf 10 DURING hiS lnfo
ice in Congress, both as member of the
House and. in recent years, as member
of the Senate. Nicely and Lewis ran
roughshod over Senator Rush d. Holt
in the recent political campaign. Holt,
who couple of years ago was protege
OF Nicely and the United Mine Workers,
turned ON the Roosevelt New Deal ad-
ministration and was bitter critic of
the w. P. A. He sought to bring about
the defeat of Nicely for reelection, but
failed utterly.
The next four years hold many pos
sibilities, politically. 1t is early to be
talking Of successor to President
Roosevelt. There are plenty Of ambitious
Democrats who would like shot at the
presidential nomination in 1940 among
them the Governors of Indiana and
PENNSYLVANIA. Gov. McNutt of Indiana,
who was once national commander of the
American Legion, has built up power
full organization in his State. He sue
ceeded in having his candidate for Gov
ernor nominated and elected on the
Democratic ticket. 1t is expected that he
will remain the power behind the throne
in Indiana, and that he will keep his
grasp on the organization. Gov. Earle
of Pennsylvania was widely publicized
as a playboy when he was a candidate
for election in 1884. Since he became
Governor, however, he has been an
ardent supporter of the New Deal and
has advanced himself as the friend of
labor and the less privileged classes. He
goes out of Office in 1898, and whether
he will be able to keep himself in the
national picture so as to make bid for
the presidential nomination in 1910
remains to be seen.
X $3.50
When it comes to considering Repub-
lican presidential possibilities four years
hence it Is clear that much will depend
upon the line the Republican party
takes. If it is to become more and more
liberal, the choice OF a candidate will be
entirely different from such choice if
the party becomes the conservative party
of the country. During the last two
years much was heard Of Senator VAN
denberg of Michigan as possible presi-
dental nominee. The Michigan Senator
declined fatty to become Q candidate.
an ayoWed candidate for the nomination