Evening star., 1922-12-02
No Third Party to Be Organ
lied, Say Leaders, in Meet
ing Today.
WILL STICK To PROGRAM
REGARDLESS OF PARTIES
Peoples Legislative Service to As.
sist Bloc by Supplying
Legislation.

Progressives from all parts of tho
country gathered here today in con
ference determined 10 put their
| shoulders to the wheel in the inter
| ests of progressive legislation. The
conference was held under auspices
+! of the Peoples Legislative Service at
the City Club.
! The formation of the new progress
sive bloc in Congress effected yester-
day was hailed as a great step for
ward when the announcement was
made at the conference today by
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin
chairman of the Peoples Legislative
Service. Senator La Toilette acted as
chairman and opened the conference
today with a statement of the pur-
i poses of the progressive group in
Congress.
! AS at the meeting of progressive
+, members of Congress yesterday, the
conference today took particular
! pains to indicate that its purpose was
Tor the advancement of progressive
! Legislation. and not for the organiZa-
tlon. of new political party.
To Avoid PartIsnnxhip.
/ At the outset of the meeting today
a resolution was adopted setting forth
! that il was the purpose of the confer
ence to limit its proceedings to de-
/ visinS means for cooperation and
support for the comprehensive pro-
gram of legislation decided upon at
/ the meeting yesterday of the pro-
! sressive members of Congress. and
/ not to give consideration to partisan
/ political affairs.
| In presenting the resolution. Basil
j NJ Manly announced that many per
sons in public office and otherwise
! situated had accepted invitations 10
attend the conference with the under
/ standing that partisan political mat
ters were not to be taken up.
! In expressing his qualification at the
ator La Toilette described the need of
such an organization as the Peoples
! Legislative Service. organized two
! years ago to aid members of Congress
, with information and statistics deal
! ing with economic matters for the
! preparation of progressive measures
and for opposing measures advanced
I by special interests
! Resolution AppIauded.
! Senatorial Toilette said the progress
; Sive members of Congress had wisely
determined to undertake thorough
A! going investigation of certain sub
| Jects and had provided for the APP
| pointment of committees to in
vestisate and report to the group.
from time to time. on Legislative
+! measures
! Each advanced step" said Senator
La Toilette. should be a well-ground
ed and sound step in the forward
movement. We are not seeking to
| accomplish everything at one stroke
F.; When Senator La Toilette read TO
the conference the resolution adopted
by the progressive bloc yesterday. de-
claring its purpose to drive special
privilege from the control of govern
| ment. there was applause.
/ 4 committee on resolutions and
/ also committee to deal with the
matter of direct primaries and cor
rupt practices acts were appointed
/ The latter committee was appointed
! on motion of former Representative
! Heating of Colorado. who declared
that there was nothing SO important
! as to give the people direct prima rieS
in selecting candidates for office.
| Under such n system, he said. the
people would be able to take care Of
! themselves.
The committee on resolutions ap-
pointed by Senator La Toilette in
/ cludeS Frederic 4. Howe. chairman.
| Andrew Furuseth. Granville +. Mac
Farland of Boston. Herbert +. Baker
of Michigan, Mrs. Edward q. Costi
4 Kan, w NdSnlUSIoH. u -. MISS TslIZd-
! beth Hauser Of New York. Amos r. T..
! Pinchot. New York: Senator Sheppard
; of Texas. Representative Huddleston
/ of Alabama. Representative Nelson of
: Minnesota. George l.. Berry of Louis
Vile; p III. Callahan. Louisville: Will
! liam II. Johnston. this city: L. Is
Robertson and Miss Ethel Smith.
Tells Plight Of Farmers.
i The committee on primaries in
cludes Edward Heating. chairman;
Warren 5. Stone. Benjamin Marsh
and Mrs. T. r. Cunningham, Dante
! Pierce. George l.. Record of New Jer-
sey. Senator Ladd of North Dakota.
| Mrs Abbie Scott Baker. Mrs. Rose
gates Forester. Frank Morrison.
Samuel u. Montgomery of West Nir-
| ginia. T. c. cashen. F. II. Klorzdao.
f, Howard Wurlitzer.
Senator-elect Frazier of North Da
kota, discussing the agricultural
emergency existing in the country.
gave gloomy picture of the condi-
tions of the farmers of the west.
He said that the farmers had been
the hardest hit by the readjustment
period after the war Although upon
agriculture depends the welfare of
all the industries of the country, he
said that farming has not been es-
tablished on paying basis, perhaps
on a business basis.
| 1--WE must have state aid and fed
eral aid to put the farmers on their
feet today and bring about better
times throughout the nation" said
Mr.. Frazier.
| He told of hundreds of acres plant
; ed in potatoes in North Dakota which
| had never been dug this year because
the prices received for potatoes did
not pay for the cost. yet potatoes. he
| said, are retailing here at s1.15 to 81
a bushel. The farmers of the north
west, he said. are compelled to pay
8, and 10 per cent on loans made
to them, and the mortgages run for
| five years 1t is impossible for the
i farmers to do business at this rate
and live The transportation situation.
| he said, was very bad, with many
cars tied up for lack of motive power.
Would Stabilize Prices.
There should be something done
to stabilize prices Of farm products"
said Mr. Frasier. He added. however
that IL would do little good to fix
the prices OF farm products and not
to fix the prices OF things the farmer
Progressives were successful at the
recent election because the people
| realized they had the necessary in
testinal stamina" to stand up and fght
| in the interest of tho people. Senator
elect Burton X. Wheeler of MontanS
declared in addressing the meeting.
| Mr. Whaolor ID that ho hoa ,et;n.S