Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-12-21
INFERENCE OF RADICALS OR
PRoGREssivEs STUDIED
VERY CLOSELY.
THIRD PARTY MAY BE RESULT
Group VIII Hold Balance OF Power In
Next Congress, but Conservatives
Hope to Win by Concessions In
Farm Legislation.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK

tam poilticai anu economic habit OF
mind which was called by Senator Rob.
ert M. LaFollette, has come to an end
The conservatives In the senate call
this conference of radicals, although
they do not SO call 1t out loud. The
men who took part In the conference
with their followers call 1t a conven-
ton OF progresslves. The country
will know what to call this conference
when the fruits of it have made them
selves manifest.
The intention of the conference
was to outline legislation which would
be acceptable to the members of what
more or less loosely have been called
the congressional bocs. One end and
aim of the meeting was to define meas
ures which would materially aid the
agricultural elements in the United
States. Other aims of the conference
were directed TO the accomplishment
of legislation along many different
lines.
There were others than senators and
representatives present at the meeting
called together by Mr.. LaFolette.
There were some governors of states
there, and there were some men who,
not holding any office, are in general
sympathy with the plans OF the gath
ering. Senator LaEollette specifically
has denied that he even so much as
suggested that the idea of the meet
ing was to form third party.
May Result in Third Party.
There are Republicans and Demo
Gratis in congress who say the fact that
the conference VAS bipartisan In It's
component parts tends to show that
the ultimate intention Is to found
third party. They point out that while
some of the legislation when is pro
posed by the attendants at the confer
ence is of a kind which conservative
minded men in a general way can in
dorse, there also is some of it to which
neither Republicans nor Democrats of
the older schools of politics can give
adherence for moment. Some of the
conservative ones OF both parties be-
lieve that the inevitable outcome of
the present groupings in the parties is
a third political organization.
The next congress possibly, even
probably, may be called to meet in ex-
ira session next spring. 1t is virtual
ly assured today that the senators and
representatives who have just been
holding their conference under the
leadership of Mr. LaFollette will hold
the balance of power in the next con
gress. Most of the men who attended
the meeting are Republicans In poll
ties, or at any rate they were elected
to office on the Republican ticket.
This means that if they join together
to prevent the passage of legislation
which the majority of the Republicans
in the house or senate shall demand,
they will be able with the assistance
of the Democrats to prevent the pas
sage of almost anything to which they
object.
The conservative and seml-conserv-
ative Republicans in house and senate !
have taken full note of the doings of |
the conference, and they also have |
studied well the future. Already the |
tObNSl fdtANEo BdNC tOu5ldCItO ways |
and means of meeting the situation.
The chances seem to be that the con-
gress, either at this winters session |
or as soon as new body shall meet, |
Will pass legislation for the benefit of |
the agricultural communities which |
will he far in advance of any legisla-
ton thus far adopted.
May Win by CONCESSIONS.
1t seems to be the view of conserv-
ative Republicans that If great conces- /
sions are made in the matter Of agri- |
cultural credits and in some other
quite number of the senate
md house men who attended the pro
gressiye or radical las you willy con-
ference will refuse to go with other
conference members into fields of leg
station which are new and which the
call dangerous. In
lther words, the conservative minded
)nes think that by yielding on certain /
matters they can hold the Republican
najorority safe for much legislation to
which the administration Is pledged
md to which some of the conference
members are opposed.
The Republicans and Democrats in
10Th house and senate have been look
ng over the lists of the names Of the
men who attended the conference OF
December / and >. Ii already is said
n Washington that the conservatives
rave list OF the names of conference
attendants who they think viii de-
line TO stay put" on all matters :
which the conference considered, and :
Who will content themselves with sus-
aiming the conference pleas for an adj :
litional strengthening of agricultural
egislation.
1t seems TO be true today that the
harpest political interest in the con-
erence is to be found in the POSSIBLE
iy rhat third party movement may
ONE out of it. Senator Borah said
OF long ago that a third party seemed
0 be either necessity or at any rate
certainty Of the immediate future.