New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
Summons Progressives to
Map Fight ON Ship SUBJ
sidy Bill and Draft
Legislative Program
Denies Purpose to
Form Third Party
Calls Conference, How
ever, of General Import
After Group Organizes

FToHl me 1fiohhe's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s.-The move
ment to form powerful progressive
group in both houses of Congress
which will hold the balance of power
after March A took on sudden and
well-defined momentum to-day.
Senator La Toilette, irs statement,
called for mobilization of all progress
slve forces in the Senate and House TO
fight the ship subsidy and enact con-
structive progressive legislation. At
the same time the Peoples Legislative
Service, through Senator La Toilette,
chairman, and Representative George
Huddleston, vice-chairman, issued a
call for two progressive conferences.
One Is conference of progressive
Senator'S and Representatives, includ-
ing newly elected members, to be held
In Washington on Friday, December /.
In conjunction with this conference
of members of Congress a call is is
sued to representative group of pro-
gressive men and women to meet in
Washington on Saturday, December Q,
to discuss program of constructive
policies and measures.
No Third Party Planned
Though these conferences will be
regarded in some quarters as a third
party movement, Senator La Toilette
to-day declared he was not chasing
"any will-o'-the-wisps," that he favored
no third party Unless it was an evolu-
fiop nd hty fIo o,,l ,f i, or>lo
and that his purpose in co-ordinating
the progressives was constructive legis-
lation and defeat of what the pro-
gressives consider bad legislation.
Talking with newspaper men to-day,
Senator La Toilette, just back in Wash
ington after his Senatorial victory, de-
clared war on the ship subsidy and
challenged the Administration program
in other respects. He called for the
organization of a strong and well-de-
fined progressive group in the Senate
and House. ~
Senator La Follette's pronouncement
is generally regarded as designed to
serve notice that he intends to seek
ments in Congress. He called atten-
ton to the fact the progressive dele
cation from single state holds the
balance of power in the House Of Rep
resentatives." This refers, it was
understood, to the Wisconsin delega-
tion.
The Wisconsin Senator is in fine
health, aggressive, and in an entirely
different frame of mind from his atti-
tude before the election and for several
recent years. He was Immediately
clad and he was the Fighting Bob"
of earlier days.
May Use Filibuster
He made it clear that he and other
progressives intend to beat the ship
subsidy by filibuster if necessary, that
he desires an extra session next spring
and that he will arrange early confer
ences of progressives in Senate and
House for consideration of the legisla-
tive program, First of all, however. is
to be the fight on the merchant marine
bill.
He deplored the practice of keeping
in Congress for three months men who
have been defeated at the polls.
Senator La Toilette lost no time in
throwing cold water on the proposed
third party. He made it clear he wants
no group of men sitting down about a
table to form third party and that if
there is one, which he regards as prob
able, it should come by evolution and
in natural way.
"Chief interest in the present situa-
tion," said Senator La Toilette, "lies
in translating the results Of the cleo
tion into legislation. That should be
the objective of the progressive mem
bers of Congress. All effort will be ex-
erted to pass good legislation and de-
feat bad measures"
He declared the Newberry case
would be reopened with the presenta-
tion of new evidence and favored thu
revision of the transportation act.
though he said he did not expect rail-
road bills to come out Of the Inter
state Commerce Committee this ses-
sion. II they did, progressive amend
ments, he said, would be added.
Will Work With Farm Bloc
Senator La Follette's proposed group
is broader than the farm bloc, though,
if he carries out his plan, it will work
in close conjunction with the farm
Continued on page four)