Askov American., 1942-04-30
Government Issues
By Hjalmar Petersen.
Third Political Parties

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Third political parties have come
and gone in the United States, and
there have been some strong third
parties strong minorities that have
served useful purposes In the main,
however, the American way has been
that of two party system.
Old fighting Bob LaFollette of Wis
consin, always made his campaigns
in the Republican primaries as
Progressive Republican. 1t was not
until 1884 that his sons, the present
senator and the former governor,
launched third political party in that
state. 1t was called the Progressive
party, being akin to Progressive Re-
publicans, so there was little change
in the political setup in Wisconsin.
It was merely adding third political
party known as the Progressive in
place of their candidates running
formerly as Progressive Republicans.
In the State of North Dakota the
Farmers Non-Partisan League, or
ganized back in 1916, has ever since
made its fights in the Republican pri-
maries. No third political party was
organized by the progressive element
in the Flickertail state.
In the main the long time U. S.
Senator George w. Norris has made
the same kind of fight in his many
campaigns in Nebraska. The same
can be said of the late Senator Borah
of Idaho.
Coming to Minnesota, the progress
sive element represented by the
Farmers Non-PartiSan League fol-
lowed the same course in this state
in 1918 and 1920 that has been pur-
sued in North Dakota ever since 1916.
It will be remembered that in 1918
the man endorsed by the Non-Parti-
san League for governor, the late
Charles Lindbergh, was a candidate
for nomination in the Republican pri-
maries. Likewise in 1920 the present
U. S. Senator, Henrik Shipstead, was
the choice of the progressives to make
the run for governor in the Repub-
lican primaries.
Both Lindbergh and Shipstead were
defeated for the Republican nominal
tions in the years 1918 and 1920,
respectively, but both made good,
formidable showings, and it is thought
by many students of Minnesota poll
tics that had the same procedure been
followed in another campaign or two
the progressives would have won the
Republican nomination and election
for governor and other offices.
Filings were made on the Farmer
Labor ticket in 1913 and 1920, but
it was not until 1922 that the Farmer
Labor party became real third polit-
ical party and had some victories.
In 1922 Mr.. Shipstead was elected
U. S. Senator and the late Knud
Wefald was elected Representative in
Congress from the Ninth district. The
late 0. ]. Kvale was elected repre-
sentative from the Seventh district
the same year as an Independent,
and was reelected in 1924 as a
Farmer-Laborite.
From 1922 on the Farmer-Labor
party in Minnesota met with vary
ing degrees of success until the de-
cisive defeat of 1898. After the elec-
ton of Floyd B. Olson as governor in
1880 some feeble attempts were made
fo ~v.noyi1a tho o1
scale, but those attempts did not bear
fruit. The party was successful only
in the State of Minnesota.
History of third political parties
indicates that if such parties are not
organized in more than one state and
do not become national in scope, their
years are limited. That, however,
does not say that third parties have
been without influence and produc-
tive of good. In democracy it is al
ways well to have minorities as well
as majorities is check on the
other. That check and balance, in
the main, has been retained through
the American two party system.
A political party sets up its plat
form and program, and, to be sure,
the principles and ideals are greater
than the man, but, on the other hand,
it is not the political party that makes
the man, but rather the men and
women who make the party. A per-
son who is inclined toward conniving,
ehiseling and downright dishonesty
is such whether he calls himself a
Republican, Democrat, or Farmer
Laborite. A person who wishes to
render useful service to his fellow