The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-12-21
.LAE GILLETTE MEET
R0USES INTEREST
CONFERENCE OF RADICALS OR
PRoGRESSiVES STUDIED
VERY CLOSELY.
THIRD PARTY MAY BE RESULT
Group viii Hold Balance Of Power in
Next Congress, but Conservatives
Hope to Win by Concessions in
Farm Legislation.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK
/ Washington.-Th conference of
senators and representatives of GER
/ tain political and economic habit Of
mind which was called by Senator Rob
ert NJ. LaFollette, has come to an end.
The conservatives in the senate call
| this conference of radicals, although
/ they do not so call it out loud. The
men who took part in the conference
| with their followers call it cOnven-
ton Of progressives, The country
will know what to call this conference
/ when the fruits Of it have made them
selves manifest.
| The intention of the conference
| was TO outline legislation which would
be acceptable to the members Of what
more or less loosely have been called
the congressional blocs. one end and
aim Of the meeting was to define meas
ures which would materially aid the
agricultural elements in the United
States. Other aims of the conference
were directed to the accomplishment
of legislation along many different
lines.
There were others than senators and
representatives, present at the meeting
called together by Mr.. LaFolette.
There were some governors of states
there, and there were some men who,
not holding any office, are in general
sympathy with the plans Of the gath
ering. Senator LaFollette specifically
has denied that he even 50 much as
suggested that the idea of the meet
ing was to form u third party.
May Result in Third Party.
There are Republicans and Demo
| Gratis in congress who say the fact that
the conference was bipartisan in it's
component parts tends to show that
the ultimate intention is to found a
third party. They point out that while
some Of the legislation when is pro
posed by the attendants at the confer
ence is Of a kind which conservative
minded men in a general way can in
dOrse. there also is some of it to which
neither Republicans nor Democrats Of
the older schools of politics can give
adherence for moment. Some of the
conservative ones Of both parties be-
lieve that the inevitable outcome Of
the present groupings in the parties is
third political organization.
The next congress possibly, even
probably, may be called to meet in eX-
ira session next spring. 1t is virtual
ly assured today that the senators and
representatives who have just been
holding their conference under the
leadership of Mr. LaFollette will hold
the balance Of power in the next con
gress. Most Of the men who attended
the meeting are Republicans In poll
tics, or at any rate they were elected
to Office on the Republican ticket
This means that if they join together
to prevent the passage of legislation
which the majority of the Republicans
in the house or senate shall demand,
they will be able with the assistance
of the Democrats to prevent the pas
sage of almost anything to which they
object.
The conservative and semi-conserv-
alive Republicans in house and senate
have taken full note Of the doings of
the conference, and they also have
studied we'll the future. Already the
conservatives have considered ways
and means of meeting the situation.
The chances seem to be that the CON
gress either Mt this winters session
or us soon as a new body shall meet,
will pass legislation for the benefit Of
the agricultural communities which
will be far In advance of any legisla-
ton thus far adopted.
May Win by Concessions.
It seems to be the view of conserv-
alive Republicans that If great conces-
sions are made in the matter Of agri-
cultural credits and in some other
matters quite a number Of the senate
and house men who attended the pro-
gressive or radical Gas you Wild con-
ference will refuse TO go with other
conference members into fields Of leg
islatlon which are new and which the
semi-conservative call dangerous. In
other words, the ConSeryative-mlnded
ones think that By yielding on certain
matters they can hold the Republican
majorority safe for much legislation TO
which the administration Is pledged
and to which some Of the conference
members are opposed
The Republicans and Democrats in
both house and senate have been look
ing over the lists Of the names of the
men who attended the conference OF
December | and 2 IT already Is said
in Washington that the conservatives
have list of the names Of conference
attendants who they think Will de-
cline to "stay put on all matters
which the conference considered, and
who will content themselves with sus-
tanning the conference pleas for an adj
ditional Strengthening Of agricultural
legislation.
II seems to be true today that the
sharpest political interest in the con.
ference Is to be found in the POSSIBLE
ity that q third party movement may
come out of It. Senator Borah sud