Evening star., 1947-12-09
The Political Mill
Pressure Is Intensified
For Third -Purty Ticket
Senator Taylor of Idaho Sought 70,
Wallace Running Mate
By Gould Lincoln

Dy OONt0 Lincoln
Pressure on Henry A. Wallace to run for
President on third-party ticket next year has
intensified. Reports in political circles here
are that the effort will wind up with Wallace
Taylor Independent ticket-in opposition to
President Truman and the Republican presi.
dentist nominee. Senator Taylor. Democrat,
of Idaho would be an admirable running mate
for the former Vice President, the Wallace
people insist. Mr.. Taylor, however, has yet
to give the green light to any plan to run him
on national ticket with Mr.. Wallace
From the Wallace inner circle comes the
word that several conferences have been held
recently to discuss the advisability and feas-
ability of putting Mr.. Wallace in the field al
third-party nominee. The argument has been
advanced that Mr.. Wallace, as third-party
candidate-there seems no possibility he would
be the choice Of the Democratic Party-would
have much greater opportunity to expound
his views on both foreign and domestic issues:
that as presidential candidate he could tour
the country and draw even larger audiences in
l948 than he has done in the past. There is
no doubt whatever that Mr. Wallace as a
candidate, would create wide interest, both on
MS own account and on account of the effect
OF this third-party candidacy on President
1ruman's chances of reelection What
strength Mr.. Wallace mustered undoubtedly
would come from the radical elements which
in the past have supported the democratic
nominee for President That he would draw
appreciably from Republican ranks Is entirely
unlikely.
Effect in Two States.
Wallace candidacy for President In two
States alone. New York and California, might
easily eliminate any chance for Truman VIC
tory. Mr.. Wallace has devoted followers in the
American Labor Party of New York. The ALP,
whose radical and Communist leanings have
been denounced by Ed Flynn, Democratic boss
OF the Bronx and Democratic National Conn
mltteeman for New York, has no love whatever
for Mr.. Truman-largely because of Mr.. Tru-
mans policy toward Soviet Russia What
would be simpler, therefore, than for Mr.. WAL
lace to take advantage Of the ALP organiza-
tion9 In California, the Wallace for President
campaign Is already on the march, under the
guiding hand OF Bob Kenny, former attorney
general. Mr.. Kenny's first objective is to win
the California delegation to the Democratic
National Convention for Mr. Wallace II that
fails. then Mr.. Kenny will rally the Wallace
supporters In support Of third ticket headed
by his man.
Already steps are being taken In California
to create a third independent, progressive
party. One such effort is under the auspices
of "The Joint Trade Union Committee for q
Third Party" headed by Hugh Bryson Of San
Francisco. A new party can get on the ballot
in California by filing petition containing
the signatures Of registered voters equal to 10
per cent of the total vote at the last guberna-
torial election. This amounts to 275970 sigma
lures. second method is by getting one per
cent Of the total vote in the gubernatorial
election, or 27,597 voters, to declare their
intention to affiliate with the new party
changing their old party registration. Accord
ing to the third party agitators the first course
Is preferable.
Petition for a new party in California must
be completed and filed by February 26 III
the requisite number of signatures is obtained
the third party comes into ofdcial being and its
State Committee. meeting in September, can
choose its list of presidential electors. The j,
Secretary Of State Of California under the law.
would be compelled to place the new party's
candidates for President and Vice President
on the ballot.
No Conflict In Procedure.
There is no conflict in this procedure with
Mr.. Kennys effort to win democratic dele
cation from California pledged to Wallace If
that improbable result should occur and Mr..
Wallace be denied q presidential nomination
at the hands of the party's national conven-
ton, Mr.. Wallace could still be third party
candidate.
Before Mr. Wallace went to Palestine . short
time ago. he said emphatically, he would sup
port third party unless Mr.. Truman and the
Democratic Party abandoned their present for
eign policies which he said were sure to lead
this country into war. He added that he
would head such a party and be its candidate,
If it were necessary.
Whether President Truman can carry New
York or California II q third party candidate
is not put forward, is debatable. It would be
unlikely in the extreme that he could carry
either If Mr.. Wallace became = candidate.