The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-07-16
THIRD PARTY

THIRD PARTY
It is possible that decisive fac
tor in the general election OF 1886
will be man who was unknown to
millions of Americans up to a
month ago, and who was known to
millions Of others only because his
name appeared on congressional
bill which was declared unconstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court of the
United States.
That man is Congressman William
I.emke of North Dakota, presiden-
tial nominee of the newly formed
Union party. Principal plank in his
platform is currency initiation, and
he has tn esupport of Father Cough
lin of Share-the-W Wealth fame. Fur
thermore, it is widely believed that
before November comes round, he
will have entered into an agreement
with DR.. Townsend, and will have
the official support Of the old age
pension movement.
No one-aside from few zeal
OTIS believes that Lemke can be
elected. Few believe that he can
attain majority in even one state.
But he can be Of tremendous inn
portance in determining the Roose-
velt-Landon race. Before going far
Their into that, it is well to present
brief history OF the third party
movement in American politics.
There are always third parties, of
course, and fourth and fifth parties
as well. Best examples are the So
cialist and Communist parties, which
put q ticket into the field each year.
But these parties do not affect
either Of the major parties they
have q certain established following
and their total vote varies but lit
tie from election to election. They
do not attract voters in any number
from the Republican or Democratic
parties.
sThe important third parties are
those which are brought into being
by some problem or condition Of
the moment and which, though
they may live only for one election,
present an appeal to q certain pro-
portion Of the voters Of the major
parties. It Is In this classification
that Lemke's new party belongs.
Several times In the history Of the
Republic, such q third party has
determined the election. Most not
able example Of that was the cleo
ton Of 1860, when Lincoln and
Douglas contended for the presi-
dency. Two other parties were also
in the field. Lincoln received only
20 per cent Of the vote, yet was
elected. Had all Of Lincoln's oppo-
sition gone to Douglas, the latter
would have won easily.
Another notable example occur
red in 1884, when Blaine was the
Republican nominee, running
against Cleveland. Decisive state
was New York. Cleveland carried
It by the astonishingly small ma
jority of 100 votes, and so was
elected to the highest office in the
land. The Prohibition candidate in
New York received the record total
Of $4,000 votes that year. Had ten
per cent Of those votes gone for
Blaine, he would have won.
Most successful third party was
that led by Theodore Roosevelt in
1912, which ran second to the
Democratic party headed by Wilson.
I nthat year, the republican candi-
date, Taft, took the worst lacing
ever received by a major party
candidate.
Most recent example of an i'm
portant third party was the Pro-
gressive party, which had the elder
Senator LaFollette for its candidate.
This party carried but one state,
Wisconsin, but received a good
sized vote In almost every state.
It was not decisive factor in the
election, however, for the reason
that Coolidge went into the presi-
dency by tremendous electoral
majority; his opponent, John w.
Davis, carrying only the tradition
ally Democratic Solid South.
To return to the present, Candi-
date Lemke has strong following
In number Of what may be ex-
tremely important states - states
which are more or less In the doubt
ful class and which might be able to
swing the battle in favor Of either
Roosevelt mr. Iand0n Thosa oro