The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-01
MEET NEEDS OF
PE0PLEIS PLAN
OF CONFERENCE
PrOgressives Forget Party Lines
to Form Program.
@PeOple Must Be Freed" Says
Senator LaFOlIette.
COMMITTEE ROOM is CLOSED
''Need Constructive, Practical,
Decisive Action"
Early Arrivals Swat Tariff and
Ship Subsidy Bill.
@PeOple Must Be Freed" Say:
Senator LaFOlIette.
COMMITTEE ROOM is CLOSED

Washington, Dec. IA sweeping
nationwide reorganization of the
country's elective system was one OF
the chief planks of the platform
adopted today at the progressive con-
ference" at the capitol Of present and
newly elected members of congress.
In order to restore and perpetuate
the control of the people OF their
government" it was proposed to;
l. Institute a nationwide campaign
in the various states. open primaries
for all elective offices, including the
,. To abolish the electoral college
3 To seat imm ediately newly elect
ed members of congress and TO enact
an effective federal and state corrupt
practices act.
No Third Party.
The meeting. which opened a series
of tvvo-day conferences here OF pro
gress:ves of all parties in and out OF
congress. went on record as DelIS Op
posed to the organization OF any
'.third party movement after Sena-
tors IlaFoIlette. of Wisconsin; MOTIFS
of Nebraska. and other speakers ha1
declared emphatically that the puT-
pose OF the gathering had absoluteIS
no-hing to do with any such move
ment.
Senator Borah. Republican, OF
Idaho. was one of the progressive
~ turned up at the gathering and eN-
pressed himself in hearty sympathy
with its legislative aims
Among the present and newly elect
cd senators present We're:
Cappcr Is Present.
NcNary Republican. of Oregon /
Capper. Republican, Of Kansas; Shep- |
uard. Democrat Of Texas; France, /
Republican, of Maryland; owen Dem
oCrat, of Oklahoma; BroOkhart, he
publican. OF Iowa; Shipstead, tarnl-
Labor. of minnesota; Wheeler. Demo- Y
crat. OF Montana and 'LaddA and Fra
z.er. Republicans. Of North Dakota
washington. Dec. f.-"Constructive,
practical, decisive action that wlll
trske swiftly and effectively at the
economic evils from which the Ameri-
can people must be freed" was de-
clarCd by Senator Robert NJ Lar Cl- \
lette. OF Wisconsin. 10 be the CHIEF OBJ
icctive Of the progressives which
opened here today with q meeting OF
present and newly elected progressive
members of congress at the capitol.
Behind the closed doors of the SEN
ale agricultural committee room, a
militant group of progressive Repub-
Hcans. OF the Republican. Democratic,
Nonpart- san and Farmer-LabOr parties
= II to work on a legislative program
which they hoped would meet the
pressing needs OF the people back
home"
Senator-elect Henrik Shipstead. of
Minnesota. the foist member of the
senate to be elected by the Farmer
Labor party, was present
People Have Been Asleep
'sThe election revealed unmistak- !
ably" said Shipstead. that the peoplc
are awakening to full realization o!
the terrible price they have paid for
remaining asleep to what has been go
ing on around them. {
Il have just come from the north !
vest. where frishtful economic con-
ditions surround the farmer, the mer- {
chant. the worker and the small bank !
or. The people of Minnesota and
North Dakota alone have spoken for a 5
clean. honest economic and financial I
system
MY idea of New York. and by that
] mean the controlling interests there. ]
is that they SIT back and look upon {
the rest of the country much as Great Y
Britain looks upon India This is not {
a feudal country and the people are
not serfs. Wall street is not chosen I
10y the people to lay down the laws" !
Shipstead declared there are small l
as well as big bankers who sre good
American citizens but there are a lot (
tional bankers and not good Ameri-
cans at ALL
Reorganize Federal Reserve.
The federal reserve system must be :
rescued from the grip of these inter
financial interests and reOr-
in the interests OF the people
themselves. he said.
Senator-elect Burton X Wheeler, =
Democrat. of Montana. who Joined
Frazier and other new pro-
sreSsiVe senators at the meeting. said:
I am absolutely opposed TO the
ship subsidy. I regard the present l
tariff as extremely injuri-
)us to the country, particularly TO the
vest
As the doors of the committee room 5
closed. it was stated that it was plan
ned TO have the discussion proceed n
along Nonpartisan lines with the I
hought IN the minds of those present a
hat the party label couLts for little or "a
nothing. as compared with the charac- r
er of the senator or the representa- n
i've principles he advocates"
PLAN RELIEF FOR FARMERS.