The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-02
NONP ARTISAN BLDG BORN AT MEET |NC IF PROGRESs|vES
Forty Legislators Plan to Drive Special Privilege Out of Control of the
 Government
By Associated Press

Washington, December 1.-An- other official 'bloc" in Congress was born today when progressives, re- publicans and democrats called into session by Senator LaFollette, repub- lican, Wisconsin, and Representative Huddleston, democrat, Alabama, formed progressive group for pro motion of progressive legislation dur ing the present and the next Con gress.
 About 40 senators, representatives and members elect, meeting behind closed doors, adopted resolutions unanimously declaring their purpose ito drive special privilege out of control of government" and outlining general program of liberal legisla- ton.
 Politics were declared to be ban ned and it was said officially that no third party movement was eontem- plated. Republicans, democrats and a farmer -laborite joined In the con- ference. which was declared to be bi- partisan and legislative. but not po- litical.
 Open Meetings Today
 Organization of the new bloc which ifs similar to the unofficial Senate farm bloc and includes many of the latter's members, is to be followed by two open meetings tomorrow of pro- gressives from all parts of the coun- try. Between 100 and POO are ex- peeted for morning meeting and the progressive conference will close to- morrow night with a dinner, for which accommodations for 500 have been made. The speakers at the din- ner. it Is announced, will include Samuel Untermyers New York attor- ney; Senator LaFollette and Former Senator Bristow of Kansas. The morning meeting will be an "open forum" for exposition of progressive opinion and the speakers will be President Gompers of the American
 Federation of Labor; Governor Blaine ] of Wisconsin and Senator IaFollet tta The congressional biocs resolutions today pledged members to cooperate 1 In behalf of progressive Legislation to be brought forth by committees oi the bloc during the present and next Congress. A general program an Inounced includes as subjects. agricul- ture, labor, railroads. taxation. ship Pthet ai AtSOdiNCos AAh tth PA maries. corrupt practices act and con jstitutional amendments, to abolish the electoral college and obtain earlier meetings of Congresses. Norris Chosen
 Senator Norris, republican. Ne braska, was chosen to preside over to- lays conference and Representative Woodruff, republican, Michigan. was named secretary, but election of per- manent officers was deferred. Legislative purposes of the bloc were emphasized by speakers today Senator LaFollette said that politics or a third party movement were not involved, while Senator Borah, repub lican, Idaho, expressed his complete sympathy" with the movement if de- signed to obtain progressive legisla- tion. He declared, however, against dealing with political subjects or presidential possibilities"
 Organization of the new block in- cluded appointment of committee on committees to specialize on the va rious legislative subjects. An advis- ory committee, composed of two mem- bers of each party from the Senate and House also was decided on. The question of holding weekly or monthly meetings was brought up, but no decision was reached on this question.