Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-12-15
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PEOPLES GROUP IN CONGRESS
CONFER WITH CITIZENS
Imn0rtant Meeting Called by Senator
La Toilette Holds Notable Two
Day Conference in Washington

Washington -partisanship
has been intensified as the result Of
a notable two-day conference in this
city, called ! the peoples legislative
service, Senator La Toilette, chair
man, and Congressman Huddleston,
vice chairman.
The outstanding feature of the
conference was the determination to
face facts and the knowledge that
privilege is not invulnerable. Not the
slightest reference was made to a
third party. Attending the confer
ence were many senators-elect and
congressmen-elect, as we'll as men,
bers of congress. There was no at
tempt to adont rigid program, or to
pass high sounding, impossible resOlu-
tions, or to outlaw dissenters. In
stead, each member Of congress may
go his own way but if he wants to
deliver effective blows for progress
sive legislation voluntary affiliation
with the progressive group will make
that possible.
The purnose of the conference was
clearly stated bv Senator La Toilette
at the opening session. He said it
was intended to carry out the original
plans of the peoples legislative serv-
ice, namely, to prepare legislation to
drive out snecial interests and pro-
ceed slowly and sanely in that direc-
ton.
"The mandate of the last election
was in favor of the progreSsives get
ting together" he said, "and keening
elbow to elbow and step to step in
advancing the needs of the neople.
Each step advanced should be we'll
grounded and sound step in the for
ward movement. We are not seeking
to ACCOMPLISH everything at one
stroke"
The system of direct ~rimarles was
declared an essential that must be ex.
tended. The federal reserve board
was scored by sneakers from the ag-
ricultural states. especially, Senator
elect Brookhart of Iowa declared this
board is controlled by "the non-parti-
san league of Wall street"
President Gompers attacked the
courts for their assumption of author
ity. at is necessary, if we aim to re-
store the control of our government
to the people," he said, "that every
attempt at judicial ASSUMPTION OF
power or the attempt at legislation
to restrain freedom of assemblage,
speech and the press must be ston
ped" He attributed to "unquestion-
ing allegiance to party" much OF the
political evils of the present and past.
In breaking this power of party, he
declared, was the hope of real control
by the people.
In sneech that should make the
ears of Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon tingle, Congressman Frear
referred to the ease with which cor
porations pile up surpluses and evade
taxation. The internal revenue COM
missioner's office, which is a unit of
the treasury department, is cuntroll-
ed by lawyers of little experience,
said Mr.. Frear. "The solicitor of that
office, who passes on millions of taxa
tions, was an usher in the White
house only a few years ago. Why
was this inexperienced boy placed on
this jt And only recently he pass
ed the job on to his brother-in-law.
That and other matters connected
with the treasury | am prepared to
prove, and / intend asking for con-
gressional investigation"
The conference closed with dinner
attended by more than 400 men and
women from every section of the
country. The sneakers included Sen
ators-elect Brookhart of Iowa, Ship
stead of Minnesota, Frazier of North
Dakota and Wheeler of Montana.
These men told the same story of
villification and in one case threaten
ed lynchin by the agents of privi-
lege because they stood for the peo-
pie. A feature of the dinner was the
oratory of Toastmaster Edward Keat-
ing. former congressman from Colo
RADIO and member of the labor
GROUP, in introducing Senator La
toilette, who was hailed as ''the lead
er of the progressive forces of
America!"