The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-26
Progressives Militant
Getting Ready to Invade New
 England States
La Toilette Headquarters in Washington Hears of Many Volunteers Daily-New Move ment Will Cut Big Figure in National Convention-States it Will Contest

 Washington, Oct. 2s.-The Progress sive Republican movement is getting ready to invade staid old New Eng land. Whether the Progressives will establish headquarters in Boston, Con- cord, N. H., or in the State Of Yer mont is now being debated by the chairman, W. l.. Houser; MediH Mo Cormick, Rudolph Spreckels and oth- CTS They look upon the States of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire as peculiarly fruitful territory for an organized Progressive Republican cam paign, and they are preparing to launch it.
 An attempt, or rather a disposition, has been shown in certain quarters friendly to President Taft to treat the Republicap Progressive campaign for Senator La Toilette as more or less of joke. Those who are acquainted with the leaders of the movement and who know of the work they are doing are satisfied that such an attitude to- ward the movement will prove a great mistake for the Presidents friends There is not a man allied with the leadership of the Progressives who is not born political fighter, and all of them have had their baptism in po- litical fire. One of these days the
 
 thoroughgoing organization is at work.
 LA FOLLETTE'S SUPPORTERS EN-
 COURAGED.
 No inside secrets will be betrayed when it is stated that the correspon- dence received at the La Toilette head quarters in Washington is encourag- ing to the leaders. Volunteers are en- listing in their movement at the rate of several hundred a day, and almost every letter contains list of Repub- lican voters who have expressed them selves privately, if not publicly, for Senator La Toilette. If the present rate of progress and effort is contin- ued by the La Toilette managers until the date of the next national Repub- lican convention, that gathering will be an epoch-making body. Even if the La Toilette forces do not succeed in nominating the Wisconsin Senator, they will be a potent force in the con- vention.
 Canadian reciprocity and general dissatisfaction have brought into the Progressive Republican ranks at least 95 per cent. of the farmers of the country" said Chairman Houser yes terday. This sounds like an exagger- ated estimate, but it is not. It is based on information received from all parts of the country from men whom we know and can trust. The same sort Of trend is true eu1ong Iaboring men. They have had a number of grievances extending back over sever al years, and they are becoming more and more inclined to look to Senator La Toilette to rectify them.
 Geographically, the easiest territory for us in the East is in Maine and Vermont. The change in sentiment in those two States in the last two years is remarkable. Tn the South, there is ample room for a Progressive or ganizatioh in North Carolina, Tennes- see, Alabama, Texas and two or three other States. The old organization in Texas, particularly, has it's hands full now'
 The Progressives look forward with confidence to those States which will hold a Presidential preference primary. They have recently discovered that the Dakota will permit them to put up a group of delegates for the national convention labelled La Toilette dele gates" This will practically force the other side to put up Taft delegates" with the result that the New Jersey preference primary will be practically duplicated in South Dakota. Sena- tor Coe I. Crawford is leading the La Toilette fight in that State, and is predicting a divided dele gation at this time.
 For the next two weeks the Pro- gressives propose to devote their att tention to the State of Michigan. Most | of the Progressive leaders are either in Congress or engaged in business, | and are free to campaign only when they have leisure to do so. There l is no campaign on in Michigan at the l present time, but Senator C1app of Minnesota will speak in the State on November 10, il and 12, Senator Craw- l ford of South Dakota will stump the | State for two weeks, and George l.. | Record of New Jersey will devote a l similar length of time. Senator La | Toilette, as soon as he has finished | his autobiography, will begin a speech | making tour which last until Congress | opens in December. It is expected | that the Progressive leaders will con- tinue this form of campaign until all | delegates to the national convention | have been chosen,