New Progressives to Have a Better Chance Than in 1924

"A better opportunity than in 1924" is the way that Arthur N. Holcombe '06, professor of Government and chairman of that department, described the chances of the new Progressive Party, being established by the LaFollettes, in an interview yesterday.

"The Republican Party is certainly weaker than it was then," he explained, "and the Democrats are evidently seriously divided against themselves. I make no predictions, but the present situation would seem to be more favorable.

Executing Old Plans

"The LaFollettes," Professor Holcombe believes, "are trying to execute the plans of their father. He had an idea that the way for the third party was to split the electoral college and throw the election into the House of Representatives. Here old party lines would be smashed," and a new ralignmen of parties result. Holcombe then sighted the case of John Quincy Adams as an example.

"LaFollette studied the campaign of Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressives in 1912, and the Populists in 1892," he said, "and decided that that was not the way to go about it; but if he could throw the election into the House of Representatives, then there would be a favorable opportunity for skillful leadership."

Regarding the influence this might have on the often-rumored third term of President Roosevelt, Holcombe declared: "I have never supposed that Mr. Roosevelt would consider running for a third consecutive term. But no President would want to weaken himself in his second term by making statements about the future which were unnecessary."

Discussing that part of the new Party's program that deals with the destiny of the Americas, Professor Holcombe felt that their proposed foreign policy would prove to be one of isolation. "He's going back to the Monroe Doctrine as an alternative to collective security," he said.

"If they were really interested in protecting South America they would want a large navy, and Bob LaFollette has voted against the naval appropriations bill.