The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-02-08
Split May Seem Inevitable
But Major Political Parties
Have Weathered Bad Ones
Many Issues Confronting
Different Factions Now
Bringing About Discus
sion On Every Hand
BY BYRON PRICE

tthACA oA DuErHus Inc 1SSOcluTc0
Press. Washington
If outward appearances alone
were considered, it certainly
would be appropriate to conclude
that the lcng-predicted reaIign-
ment of political parties was just
around the corner.
The utterances of pubic men
are drawing a more distinct line
between the conservative and
liberal schools of political thought,
and this line runs directly through
both major parties, not between
them.
Mr.. Roosevelt and his followers
have committed themselves to
policies which they hold to be in
the interest of "the common peo-
ple," and which are thoroughly
repugnant to the other wing of
the Democratic party.
The break is so distinct that
DIR. Roosevelt himself speaks of
those who oppose him as "the
powers OF greed" and such emil
nent figures as Alfred E Smith
reply that the Roosevelt wing is
bent on Communism"
Among the Republicans Mr..
Borah chaFgeZ that '"seffish and
sordid interests are seeking to
control the party, and the wing
about which he is talking retorts
with charge of "Borah radical
ISM"
1t would be the easiest thing
in the world, if only surface in
dications were trusted, to decide
that both parties were breaking
squarely in two, and that the re-
spective conservatives and liberal
segments Of each would unite to
form two new parties, conserva-
tive and liberal.
Concession Seen
AS a matter of fact, however,
few practical politicians expect
any such development.
For one thing, the public state
ment of public men frequently go
great deal further than the
same men are likely to go when
faced with the actual possibilities
of party disruption.
Almost all political circles fully
expect that both Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Borah win make certain
gestures toward the rightist
groups before the campaign gets
completely under way. On the
other hand. it is common knowl-
edge that both conservative Demo-
Gratis and conservative Republi-
cans are willing to make conces-
siOns to the leftists.
Not that anyone looks for real
harmony in either camp. Both
party high commands appear re-
conciled to the prospect of large
scale boiling among various
groups of voters. But that il
quite a different thing from COM
plete party realignment.
After all, the pull of party is
very strong. 1t was so strong
among the Democrats in the COS
that, in spite of the conservative
bolt from Bryan, the party went
right on. In fact, by 1904, when
Alton B. Parker was the nominee,
it had recognized on lines so diff
ferent that it appeared more con-
sentative than the G. o. P.
The same pull was so strong
among the Republicans in the
earlier decades of this century
that the Theodore Roosevelt
liberal bolt in 1912 did not inter-
fere with a reunion eight years
later, leading to dozen years of
Republican rule.
Premature Talk
OF course every year makes its
own political precedents, yet it is
difficult for political old-timers
to see how either great party can
sbe expected to give up its con-
continuing identity in 1896.
It is hard for them to visualize
situation where Mr.. Roosevelt
and MI. Borah would be in the
same party, and Mr.. Smith and
Dir. Hoover, for instance, in the
other.