Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-11-22
La TOILETTE CALLS
PROGRESSIVE MEETING


The following statement was is
sued by Senator LaFollette at wash
ington:
"A situation has been created which,
to my mind, calls for Definite action
on the part of Progressives IN cen
gress. The people have given them
a mandate which can not be ignored
For several years a small number OF
Progressives in both parties nave been
in disagreement with the most import
ant politics of those who have been
for the time in positions OF party lead
ership. Although it has been appar-
ent that the broad aims and purposes
OF these Progressives were IN mar
mony, the necessary elements have
not been present for the formation
0 fan aggressive group, united upon
a program of positive action Never
theless, in time of great reaction, the
Progressiyes in congress, acting with
out any concerted plan, have defeated
many vicious pierces of legislation and
have presented alternative policies
which have commanded general pub
lie confidence. The time has now
come for the organization of a we'll
defined group, cooperating in support
of accepted progressive principles and
policies. The announced program of
the administration makes plain the
necessity for immediate action. It
has been stated that, disregarding the
expressed will of the people, and ig-
noring the necessity for immediate
and tangiblerelieff for PROSTATE Amer
lean agriculture, President Harding is
about to demand the passage of the
ship subsidy bill be the present con-
gress. Administration leaders have
indicated, also, a desire to rush thru
program of legislation accelerating
the merger of the railroads into a
small number of monster systems,
and giving the railroad labor board CO.
ercive power to prohibit and punish
strikes and other lawful activities of
employees. Great interests are en-
ploying their influence with high of
ficials in the administration to effect
the immediate transfer of the nation
al forests to the control of the Sec
rotary Of the interior, whose declared
policy and practice is to turn the ma
tural resources of the nation over to
exploitation by private monopoly.
These mea sures must be defeated"
Wherever the ship subsidy bill was
an issue in the campaign, as in the
great republican states of Minnesota,
Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North
Dakota, it was overwhelmingly repu-
dated. The action of President Hard
ing in forcing the ship subsidy bill
upon Congress at this time is, there
fore, direct challenge, not only to
the Progressives, but to the people. /
am convinced that there are in the
present Congress a sufficient number
of patriotic and courageous men to
defeat this measure. In any event,
such attempts to abuse the dominent
power fthe administration over this
discredited Congress will be resisted
at this time, and will be decisively re-
pudiated by the Congress to which the
people have given their mandate. No
one can be unmindful of the fact that
the election has created such a close
division in Congress that the Progress
sive delegation from a single state
holds the balance of power in the
House of Representatives Cores
pondingly, group of eight or ten
Progrlssives may act with equal eff
fectiveness in the Senate. Within the
past two months / have talked with
influential men and women, including
number of the Progressive candi-
dates who were successful at the re-
cent election. | have everywhere been
impressed with the fact that there is
deep and insistent public sentiment
which will earnestly support a sin
cere effort to mobilize the Progressive
forces in Congress. For my own part
l am ready to participate in such a
movement at the present time and am
convinced that if proper action is TAX
en- without delay great opportunity
for public service will be presented.
Within the next few days, l expect
to consult with my colleague IN both
branches of Congress, and trust that
some definite understanding may soon
be reached"