Evening star., 1942-12-12
Democrats Face
ThirdPartyMove
In Two Areas
United Form Front
Meeting Called
In Omohu Today
By the Associated Press.

on the Midwest and Deep South
today as a "diagnostic" Demo-
cratic huddle developed in the
wake of critical rumblings from
the party's chief sectional
stronghold.
Under the cloud of third-party
threats from two Democratic stall
warts-former Secretary Of War
Harry Woodring and Gov Frank
Dixon of Alabama Democratic
leaders from nine Midwestern
States met today in a surprise ses-
sion in Omaha in an announced ef-
fort to form a united farm front.
Only the Importance attached to
the meeting by national party
heads-reportedly not even consult
ed in its calling-seemed likely to
save it from the stamp of a rump
conference. Nebraska National
Committeeman James c. Quigley
said Eugene Casey, special assistant
to President Roosevelt, and Oscar r.
Ewing, national Democratic party
vice chairman. will participate and
attributed their planned attendance
to Washington's interest in the
event.
Plan Own Decisions.
However, he stressed that Iowa
and Nebraska party leaders called
the meeting without inspiration in
Washington" and that its decisions
will be our own
Republican victories in November,
he said, indicated something Is
"basically wrong" with Democratic
party policies, and that the session,
besides creating a united farm State
front, will seek to diagnose the situ-
alton and prescribe remedy.
Conference sessions will be closed
and party leaders will be invited
to get their worries and grudges of
their chest and call spade q
spade Mr.. Quigley declared.
National Committeeman Frank ].
Comfort of Iowa said at Des Moines
that the State chairman and ma
tlonal committeeman may discuss
a successor to National Party Chair
man Edward j. Flynn. The meet
ing will not be anti-Flynn," Mr..
Comfort added, "but Mr.. Flynn has
indicated he may resign"
National committeeman and
State party chairmen from Wyo-
ming, Colorado, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa have
been invited.
May Discuss Patronage.
Iowa State Chairman Jake More
commented when the meeting was
announced last Wednesday that
the Democrats should have the
handling Of Federal patronage. war
or no war, If we are to maintain
the two-party system"
Mr.. Quigley said patronage may
be up for discussion, but that he
and Nebraska State Chairman w.
A. Schall were agreed that the mat
terS to be discussed should be pure
ly constructive and for the good of
the party. We want to diagnose it's
whole illness
Dlxieland, meanwhile, heard the
charges of Alabama's Governor.
Frank M. Dixon, that the Demo-
cratic party was "dynamiting" the
South'S social structure.
Speaking before the Southern So
clety OF New York last night, Gov.
Dixon said formation of a Southern
Democratic party was being strongly
suggested and cautioned that con-
fusion caused by pressure groups
IN Washington 'is likely to cause the
defeat of the next Democratic can
didate for President.
| squirting speculation as to wheth.
er Gov. DiXon,s diatribe might be
part OF an impromptu attempt to
split the Democratic party was the
Commonwealth party proposal of
Mr.. Woodring in Topeka, Kans.
Bids for Lost Souls"
Although the former Democratic
Governor OF Kansas and cabinet
member during President Roosevelt,s
second term said he was bidding for
what he called the lost souls of the
Democratic and Republican parties
his strongest criticism was aimed at
the New Deal.
He termed 1t "a philosophy OF
government gone mad" intefpreted
the recent election results as rep,,di-
alton OF the New Deal rather than
lndorsement of Republican policies.
and predicted Wendell Willkie. 1940
COP presidential nominee, would
JOIN forces with President Roosevelt
TO establish a Liberal party in 1948,
Although the former Democratic
Governor of Kansas said the next
steps in organizing the party would
await the response to his proposal.
ne predlcted there would be Com
monwealth candidate for President
by 1914 and efforts would be made
TO put some State tickets in the
field.
| Real Test in 1948.
But the real test, he explained.
would come in 1948-"the year when
Americas course will be determined,
Mr.. Woodring's proposal was REM
iniscent of the 1888 effort of Philip
F. La Toilette. former Wisconsin
Governor, to organize party called
the National Progressives of Amer
lea. Instead of advocating a de-
tailed economic program as Mr.. La
Toilette did. however, Mr.. Wood
rings first statement on the Com
monwealth Party emphasized this
credo:
Il believe the American people in
overwhelming majority want State
and individual rights restored, that
they want their liberties determined
by free courts and not by boards
and commissions. Those. in my
opinion. should be cardinal prin-
ciples of our Commonwealth Party"
Internationalism will be the issue
in 1914, Mr.. Woodring declared, and
he called for "a sound pcHcy of ex-
tending aid to our neighbors who
must re-establish themselves when
the war is over"
| He predicted the Republican party
would nominate Gov. John w.
Bricker of Ohio and that Mr.. Willkie
| tsee POLITICS, Page A-sJ