Evening star., 1922-12-01
Progressive Conference as It At
fects New Party Suggestions.

The suggested formation, as re-
suit of the progressive conference
called by Senator La Toilette. of
new political party-a suggestion. by
the way, which was characterized as
improper by the Wisconsin senator
himself-has been the subject of ex-
tended editorial discussion. There Is
general agreement among editors
that a strong leader of the Roose-
welt type easily could start such
movement. but no such figure is in
sight, they say The La Toilette con-
ference generally is considered as an
'opportunist movement" which is not
expected to do more than initiate
progressive program of legislation to
be attempted in the next Congress.
The Wisconsin solon knows where
the center of the stage is" and lis
never backward in appropriating it,"
says the New York Tribune Crepub-
lican). which also characterizes him
as the senior statesman around
Washington in the business of being
in a third party and yet not being in
it, He is now a republican only be-
cause he writes his own definition of
republcanism. In third party
Battling Bob would undoubtedly
have to accept the claims Of discipline
caging the skylark as Of imprisoning
him in so deadly an association" In
effect that also is the view of the
New York Times independent demo-
cratic), which further expresses the
belief that La Toilette has embarked
upon a campaign of political intimi-
dat ation. He hopes to terrorize the re-
publican party into submitting to his
dictation, in the matter both of legis-
lation by Congress and of candidates
in 1924 He is so glaringly out for
mischief. and plenty of it. that per
haps some of the lesser mischief
makers will refuse to make them
selves a tail for his kite"
The Philadelphia Public Ledger
Independent republican, insists that
be for La Toilette to lead this new
crusade and head this new hegira
into the future Under his leadership
it will destroy itself and be destroyed
by him. He Is the logical leader of
the wild men who will refuse to be
vannah Press (democratic) to the
fact that 1.-The third party business
has been tried often and failed. Every
campaign there is talk of third
party. Doubtless Hiram johnson and
Borah and La Toilette would like to
Il
there is no serious sentiment for
new movement. Even Beveridge and
Clifford Pinchot could not make it
CO."
Unless a real leader can be located
there is little hope for any third party.
the Minneapolis Tribune Gndepen-
dent) holds. as neither La Toilette
nor Borah appears to measure up to
the required gauge" There are In
dications everywhere that the revolt
s@n 10 {N1V
ing, as the Waterbury Republican
independently sees 1t. because the
old parties are now virtually dried
up There is almost no juice of prin-
ciples in them. Party lines are going
to smash and politicians calling them
grouping together according to eco
nomic interests" The clash OF inter-
ests among the radicals, however.
must have a distinct influence on any
thing proposed to be accomplished.
the Boston Globe dndependenp ,,.;,s Is
resemble a star cast from which
team play is not to be expected" but
the Globe believes that while they
may find it difficult to agree on men
they will have considerable unanimity
on measures" The socialistic New
York Call argues that any new party
"must come out of the organization
Of the city workers and the farmers.
ANY third party that may come into
existence In the immediate future
viii be effective only as a check on
the Tai old parties" the Hoboken Hud-
son observer independently argues.
while the Wichita Beacon holds that
.in order to have stability and back
hone such a movement must have
the hacking of sturdy thorough
eoinr American statesmen of the
Roosevelt type, and these resent the
Ia toilette leadership" The Utica
Press (republican also insists that.
lacking either a dominant issue or
personality to rally the ne. voters o'ee' OF OF
Alignment Of various political ele-
ments could accomplish would be to
force either of the present parties
into . partial acceptance Of their
IDEAS" This likewise 10 the position
Of the Springfield Union (indepen-