Evening star., 1937-09-10
Political ReaIignments.

o'iiicaI RealIgnmentS.
In Labor day speech Governor Philin
r. La Toilette of Wisconsin predicted
ehat oy 1910 there would be new political
arguments which would give the voters
choice between progressive and re.
acIiohary government. John L. Lewis.
head OF the c. l. O., has predicted-nav.
threatened-aS much. DR.. Nicholas Muir
ray Butler, president of Columbia Uni
Ferslty, has declared 1t is time to throw
ASIDE the old political parties and seek
division between progressive liberals"
and "reactionary radicals" Governor Ia
Toilette is himself one of the heads of
an independent progressive party in
wisconsin; Mr.. Lewis, formerly a Re-
publican and more recently New Deal
Democrat, may seek the formation of
labor party; DR.. Butler has always been
Republican, though he broke with
party leadership and opposed national
prohibition.
None OF these political prophets is a
major leader in either of the old domi-
nant parties. The view of DR.. Butler.
IN regard to political realignments. diff
fers from those of Governor La Toilette
and of Mr.. Lewis. He regards the Lewises
and the Roosevelts as "reactionary radi-
Gals" He sees in their efforts a move
ment toward fascism in this country
with the regmentation of the American
people as a necessary sequel The Lew
lses and the Rooseyelts regard DR.. But
Ter, on the other hand, as a reactionary
and conservative.
The political division of the country
along the lines of conservatives and
progressives has been a dream of manv
other political leaders. 1t was the dream
of the elder La Toilette, Fighting Bob"
father of the present Governor and of
the present Senator. In 1924 Bob La
Follette left the Republican party and
ran for President as an Independent
Progressive. He met no more success,
than did the late President Theodore
Roosevelt in 1912, when he, too, left
the Republican fold and sought to estab-
lish the Bull Moose party.
The tenacity of the old Democratic
party and OF the G. O. P. has been
amazing, considering the reverses which
each has met during more than three
quarters of century. The ground roots
OF both go deep. They 60 down to
the precinct organization in every dis
trict and other subdivision throughout
the country. They are fostered by the laws
OF the forty EIGHT States which recognize
these parties as established. Sectional
ism has helped TO keep them alive. And,
finally, the real divergence of economic
interests between the rural population
and the urban and industrial groups,
plus the opposing interests of various
sections of the country, has made re-
alignment of political parties difficult.
The La Follettes, in their hope for
new progressive party, look to a union
of labor and the farmers, a farmer
labor party Such an alignment would
be difficult to bring about and more
difficult to maintain The farmer wishes
to sell his products in a rising market,
the industrialist wishes to buy them in
a lowering market and vice versa. The
Lewises are interested particularly in
the formation of labor party-ready
enough to include the farmers If they
wish to go along, but a new party de-
signed primarily in the interest of the
industrial workers.
Notwithstanding all these prophesies
of new political algnments, it would be
surprising to find g. final abandonment
of either of the other parties by 1910.
The Republicans are getting their Sec
ond wind, and the Democrats do not
intend to have their place in the sun
taken from them if they can help it.
AT best, third party may be launched.
If the threats of Governor La Toilette and
Mr.. Lewis are carried out But that
such third party will fare any better
than did the Bull Moose party in 1912
or the La Toilette Progressive party in
1924 may be doubted.