Las Vegas optic., 1911-03-23
STATES FALLING
In Line CLAIM
PROGRESSIVES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF MA.
ioNAL LEAGUE ISSUES FIRST
REPORT

Washington, March 23.-The Ma
tional Progressive Republican League
having been in existence less than
two months. announces through its
executive committee that the outlook
is encouraging. The officers say that
the progressive movement Throughout;
the country is crystallizing and that
this organization will prove the raj
lying ground for the forces of pro-
gressivism throughout the United
States regardless of previous party
affiliation.
The executive committee in their
report takes much comfort in the
Endorsement of their whole program
Of advanced legislation by the pow
erful organization of the American
Federation of Labor. While acknowl-
edging that the federation's program
is not a verbatim copy of their own
they claim that in substance it paral-
lels the leagues own plan of action.
The report notes that the crystalliza-
tion of sentiment is not confined to
the western and middle western
states, but counts among the regions
where the tenets of the so-called new
party" are becoming popular New
York, Ohio and Illinois.
For the next six months the league
plans speaking campaign which will
not be confined to any one section
of the union, and it promises that
between now and November the prin-
ciples and the aims of the party or
ganization will receive an amount Of
publicity heretofore unknown in the
annals of political propaganda. Along
with the verbal appeal and the use
of the mails for circularizing the ma
tion on the subject of the leagues
principles, a magazine publicity cam
paign is in contemplation and, in
limited extent, has been arranged.
The speech of the leagues presi-
dent, Senator Jonathan Bourne of
Oregon, constituted the first piece of
literature sent out. In this speech
entitled, Popular VS.. Delegated Gov
ernment," the Oregonian took for his
text the underlying laws of the state
of Oregon and advocated the national
! application of the principles therein
expressed as the surest method of
taking "the first step in the right di-
rection."
To a certain extent the plans for
a great speaking season have been
curtaiied by the presidents call for
an extra session of congress. Many
of the leading men of the new party
and men upon whom the league had
depended for it's heavy artillery in
the early stages of the progressive
campaign will be tied to Washing
ton by congressional duties.
Of the progress of it's principles in
the states. the league has this to
say:
estate leagues of an aggressive
kind have been organized in Minne-
sofa, Nebraska, Michigan, South Da-
kota, North Dakota and Washington,
while similar leagues are forming in
Montana and some other western
states. The Minnesota league has
opened offices and employed secre-
tary. In South Dakota there are two
state organizations which desire 70
be recognized by us. Similar organi-
cations thave been perfected in Me-
braska and Washington with an en-
rolment of prominent men. The
State league in Colorado is planning
to make use of the initiative and ref
erendum to secure such legislation
as the league has indorsed and to
bring about the election of proper
United States senator 1t is working
to organize all the counties.
III JHe SIdl0 Vi w dSulHSlOH q
large committee on organization has
been formed and they report in the
near future: We shall have county
leagues organized throughout the
state and a call issued for state
organization. 1t has been the inten
ton of us to affiliate if possible with
the national organization, and we
will be very glad to cooperate with
you.'
More really fundamental legisla-
tion for popular government is being
enacted by the legislatures Of the
states now in session than in the pre-
ceding ten years. This legislation ad-
heres pretty closely to the outline of
the league. The Office is carrying on
more or less active correspondent :
relative to such measures as the pres
idential preference bill, the initiative
and referendum and recall in num-
Der of states"
Wisconsin promises to enact the
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