Evening star., 1922-11-20
RIVALRY IS KEEN
FOR LEADERS,,,",P
Of PROGRESS|VES
Contest May Develop Heart
burnings and JeaIousies
in Bloc.
By n. O. MESSENGER.

AS Congress resumes its session
with a specific program designated
by the President of the United States.
senators and representatives find
themselves deeply interested in polit-
ical developments expected to grow
out of legislative action and in the
formation of political alignments for
the future.
upon being a progressive" and there
is spirited rivalry for the leadership
of the progressives. with keen
pride of authorship in the definition
of progressive and of what consti-
tutes progressivism. There are
many brands of progressivism. They
run all the way from the broad. gen.
eral advocacy of "a forward looking
policy" which can mean anything or
nothing. to demand for the recogni
tfon of the soviet government and
the release of the political prisoners.
While this rivalry will not reach its
climax until the next Congress as
sembles. it is beginning now at a
lively pace, with prospect of many
heartburnings and jealousies as it
is contest between the two parties,
democratic and republican,, for the
privilege of being accepted as the ex-
ponent of the simon-pure brand of
progressivism. Then there is the
movement within the republican party
to eliminate all trace of reactionary-
ism and to denominate the G. o. P.
as 100 per cent progressive organ
ization. There also are the personal
rivalries among individuals in both
parties in each house for leadership
and prestige.
Hull Sounds Call.
Judge Hull. chairman of the demo-
cratic national committee. during all
the recent campaign consistently and
persistently claimed that the demo-
Gratis were the real progressives. and
he sounded the cry of come, all ye
faithful" to progressives Of whatever
political affiliation to rally to the
democratic banner.
Republican leaders, such as Mr.. Pin
chot in Pennsylvania. Mr.. Beveridge
in Indiana. Senator johnson In CAL
ifornia and Senator Borah in Idaho.
besought the republican progressives
to stay in the party and purify it of
the republican party the true progress
sive political organization that could
do things" at once. being in possess
sion of complete power in govern
ment.
One phase of the expected develop
ments which is being watched is the
suggestion of combination, on
measures of legislation classed as
progressive, of all the progressive
elements now making up the checker
board of politics in the country, the
formation of what, in the last an
alysis, would be a progressive bloc
in Congress, including men of all
parties.
See Conflict in Aims.
Old timers at the Capitol, viewing
the drift Of affairs. say that the
greatest weakness in a movement of
that character would be the in
congruous elements which would
of necessity compose it. The strongest
practical bloc now existing is the
farmer group. When railroad
group should come into the combina-
tion, interests and aims might con-
amalgamation would begin to crum-
BILE around the edges and crack in the
middle. Another danger. they point
out. is the impracticability Of princi-
pies upon which all could unite. since
there are more different kinds Of
things advocated by the component
elements than there were colors in
Joseph's coat.
Some Of the thoughtful men at the
Capitol believe that this hare-up of
progressivism is temporary and that,
as legislation proceeds. political ele-
ments in Congress will continue to
adhere pretty closely to old party
standard lines and that by 1924 there
will be a sharp alignment Of the two
old parties against each other on ac-
cepted and traditional doctrines.