Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-11-20
Matter To Be Determined
BY Power To Stick
Together.
ARE BUSY TODAY
Openly Hostile TO Administration
And Are Out To Prevent Passage
OF Ship Subsidy And Other Meas
ures-La Toilette Is Leader.
1nS United Pre.s.A

NaShlngtOn, Nov. 2O.--Ihe WhC!c
future Of the new progressive move
ment just initiated by progressiyes
in congress was admitted today to de-
pend on the answer to this question:
Can the progressiveS get together
and stay together?
As g result Of Senator LaFollette's
announcement Saturday. progressives
today were out in the open with pro-
gram of deliberate hostility to the ad
ministration. As congress assembled,
the progresSives faced the first test o.
their ability to do things. They were
prepared for unparalleled pressure
from without. from administration
sources, pressure designed to weaken
their ranks aid break down their Ill
ibuster against the ship subsidy and
other administration measures. That
they would successfully withstand
that pressure the progressives all were
confident.
What they will attempt to do in the
short session that opened today IS 4
negative thing. They simply want 10
prevent President Harding and Repub-
lean leaders ir congress from enact
ing certain laws. That is a compara-
tivelv easy task for such experienced
hlibusters rs LaFollette, Borah and
others of the progressive group.
IN the next congress. which the pro-
oregsives hope thew Will force Harding
to call soon after March 4, the progres-
sives task viii be Affirmative and con-
structive They viii have their own
program TO get through. Then, they
admit. the test of their unity Will
come.
Ir the past, the progressives have
never been unanimous on ali great
questions before congress. They are
sharply divided now on some. I've
soldier bonus Is an example. Bor&h
is exceedingly anti-bonus. LaFollette
is lust as strongly pro-bonus, There
are other differences just as wide, ana
the question now is whether the pro
pressives viii be able to recorclI these
disagreemcnts and pull together.
They viii get no help in this from
tbe leaders of the regular groups IN
either Republican or Democratic par
ties. who -egard the progressive plan
to organize q definite bloc as the tore-
runaer Of q third party. Every eiIorJ
of regular party leaders will be dTect-
ed therefore to checkmating the new
bIo. and to breaking it down by ere
a+inq dissention. Both parties are
involved because both Republicans and
Democrats are represented in the pro-
greesive ranks.
The conferences to be held here De
oenhe,. and , were called largely FOR
consideration Of Just this problem
which the progressives realize Is the!'
biggest. Personal ambitions ana lo'-
bles must be forgotten and laid aSlGe
ror the common good, leaders OF the
movement will warn when the confer
pnces are held. They viii urge tha'
ali prorressives give the new move
merit one good chance 10 succeed D!
refusine. to be sidetracked from the
main objects by personal or protes'
sional iealousies. or by the influence
tbat win be brought to bear by tn'
enemies of the movement. -
LaFollette and other leaders are e., ,uI 1t
If confidence in their success. Ih2>
have been waiting long time Tor tins
onnortrnitv. They now mean to MAKE
the most Of it. br constructing sen
s;hlo sare. VET forward looking pro
cram. free of isms or frlils' and theI
irving with all their might to put y
through.