Evening star., 1936-12-28
Divided They Fall.

against itself cannot long exist. The
same thing is true Of political parties.
The divisions in the Republican party
began more than quarter of a century
ago. The wedge was small at the start
with the senior La Toilette as its cleav-
ing edge. While Republicans of the West
became more and more inclined to the
La Toilette view of public policy, there
were other Republicans, particularly in
the East, who became more and more
stubbornly attached to the doctrines of
the Hales, the Aldrichs, the Cranes and
the Lodges 1t was inevitable that
sooner or later, unless some unifying
force could be applied, they would pull
the house down. The present low estate
Of the Republican party is due in part
to the fact that the followers of La
Toilette and other. progressives have
f1ocked to the Democratic standard in
recent elections.
The job which confronts Chairman
Hamilton and other leaders of the
G. o. P. is to draw together what re-
mains of the party and to win back the
former Republicans who have deserted.
1t seems an Herculean task. And yet
there is one solidifying factor which
perhaps must be taken into account. If
Senators and members of the House and
other elective officers in the States are
to continue to be elected, the party
whose nominees they are must continue
to show signs Of life. Either that or
they must set up a new party or join
some other. Senator La Toilette Of
Wisconsin has solved his problem, at
least temporarily. He and his brother,
Gov. Philip La Toilette, have organized
q Progressive party Of their own in the
Badger State. But there are other Re-
publicans Of the West now in Office who
are skating on ice which becomes thinner
and thinner as the prestige Of the
G. o. p. waneS.
It is possible for the Western Repub-
icans, If they desire, to join with the
La Follettes and the Shipsteads Of Wis
consin and Minnesota in the formation
of a new national Progressive party, pro-
vided the Progressives and the Farmer
Laborites determine that 1t Is wise to
launch such q party. 1t is something
the Progressives have been dabbling with
for long time. Only the fact that
President Roosevelt and the New Deal
Democrats have stolen most Of their
thunder has prevented such action in
the last four years. Or these Western
Republicans might even decide to 60 the
whole route and join the Democratic
party. The only other alternative seems
to be to stick by the q. o. p. and try to
stage a comeback.
There has been some indication that
the more stiffnecked conservatives Of
the Republican party have softened; that
they are willing to 60 along with their
more progressive brethren. If that be the
case, then perhaps some ground can be
found upon which these discordant ele-
ments in the g. o. p. may come together.
Certainly, there is little reason to believe
that the progressive Republicans will
cast aside demands for "liberalizing" the
party-certainly not at this particular
juncture.
The progress the Republicans make in
the coming session of Congress, progress
toward unity of action, will be watched
with interest the country over. II there
is to be no unity Of action, then what
can be expected Of the Republicans out
side Of Congress? II there is to be no
unity Of action, If there is to be only
more and more discord, the days of the
Republican party may be numbered.