Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-02
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(Copyright, 1922

(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1922
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE
presidential campaign of 1924 might
well be said to begin today. An
intense struggle for control of the
Republican party, in fact an under
mining of its present conservative
leadership form the east, is direct
ly involved in the conference Of
"progressives" called by Senator
LaFollette an meeting here Friday
and Saturday. Y. "
Ostensibly the movement is BIZ
partisan. Some Democrats have
been drawn into the progressive
group. Ostensibly its motive is mere
ly legislative. Some major issues
will be discussed and ideas exchang-
ed with the vague purpose of per-
suading progressives to act in con-
cert. The idea of a bloc is disclaim-
ed-no pledges, are to be asked for
specific measures, which is the way
the tariff bloc and the farm bloc
have operated. But these are osten-
Sible purposes and not the real pur
poses. + .4
Something deeper and more fsff
reaching than the attitude of small
group of IS senators and Is repre-
sentat ives on current issues is meant
by the progressive" conference.
Perhaps none of the conferees can
tell at the outset just what the OBJ q
jective is for there are interna
jealousies> and presidential aspira
tions and sectional interests all en-
tangled and interviewer.
Confidence in Leaders Lost
But the one certain thing about
which there can be no dispute is
the avowed confession of lack Of
confidence in the leaders of the Re-
publican party. Senator LaFolletts
is striking out for leadership of his
group because he feels more can be
obtained that way than by hammer
ing at the unyielding conservatives
who run things for the administra-
ton in congress.
The object then is revolt The
Progressives argue that they are
merely banding themselves together
to secure advancement of progressive
measures. They deny a third party
is in the making. The truth is they
al
anybody else on the outside. They
have by their call of a conferences,
however, broken away from the reg
ular Republican leadership and es-
saved to take things INTO their own !,
hands. They are trusting to circum- I
stances and opportunity to tell them
the next move.
Harding's Counter Stroke
AS a counter move President Har-
ding and his lieutenantsN in congress
have determined to steal the thunder
Of the progressive group. Certain
things which the more radical of
the Progressive coalition may advo-
cate such as "a restoration of excess
profits taxes will be ignored by the
administration but those measures
which have been the basis not only
have tempted some of the newly
elected senators to fall in with the
plans of the Progressive conference
will be made part and parcel of the
administration program.
1t was no mere coincidence that
the plans of the Harding administra-
ton to take up i'll earnest legisla-
ton for the relief of the farmers
woes should be announced at a
White House conference on the very
day when the new Progressive group
is meeting in the national capital
Secretary Wallace of the. depart
ment of agriculture, upon whom Mr.
Harding has leaned from the begin
ming for advice on matters agricul-f
tural, and Harry Daugherty, attor-
Hney general and in political mentor
to the president, have been in con.
ference with. the chief executive off
and on for a fortnight trying to do
something positive and forceful at
once to make the farmer understand
that his IS. o. S." are not going I'M
needed in Washington.
Third Party Prospects Dim
From now until the next national
convention of the Republican party.
in June, 1924, the effort will be to
lberallze and make progressive"
the present Republican party. Fail
ing that third party may be de-
Velop I'd but the prospects are far
from bright. Many of the men who
ar meeting with the "progressives"
today ask for election on the regu-
lar Republican ticket in their own
states. They would rather continue
to dominate state delegations at ma
tional conventions and pound away
at the Republican party. even de-
feating it at~the polls again as in
1912, to secure recognition of them
selves. The sentiment for third
party is really nebulous. It isn't
menace no T. What it may be
year hence is different matter.