Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-02
JOINT PROGRAM
IS PLANNED BY
COALITION OF
PROGRESS|vES
Republicans and Democrats
of Both Houses of Con-
greSS Form Bloc to Work
for Legislation
URGE FORWARD STEP
IN NATIONS AFFAIRS
LaFoIIette and HuddIeSton
Leaders in Movement
Suggest AboliShing Of the
Electoral College

Washington, Dec. 1.--Another
unofficial "bloc" in congress was
born today when progressives, re-
publicans and 'emocrats, called
into session by Senator La Toilette,
republican of Wisconsin, and Rep
resentative IIuddleston, democrat
of Alabama, formed Il progressive
group for promotion of progress
sive legislation during the present
and the next congress.
About 40 senators, representa-
tives and members-elect, meeting
behind closed doors in the senate
agriculture committee room,
adopted resolutions unanimously
declaring their purpose ITO drive
special privilege out of control OF
government" and outlining gen
eral program Of liberal legislation.
Politics was declared to be
banned, and it was announced Of
fioially that no third party move
ment was contemplated. RepublI-
cans, democrats and farmer-la-
borite Joined in tho conference,
which was declared to be bi-par-
tisan and legislative, but not polit-
ical.
Organization OF the new bloc,
which is similar to the unofficial
senate farm bloc and includes
many of the latter's members, is to
be followed by two open meetings
of the progressiyes from all parts
OF the country. Between 100 and
zoo are expected for a morning
meeting, and the progressive con-
ference will close tomorrow night
with a dinner for which accommo-
dations have been made. The
speakers, at the dinner, it is an
nounced, will include Samuel I'm
termyer, New York attorney; SEN
ator La toilette, and former SEN
ator Bristow of Kansas. The
morning session will be an "open
forum" for exposition of pro-
gressive opinion, ana the speakers
will be President Gompers of the
American Federation of LABOR;
Governor Blaine sof Wisconsin, ana
Senator La Toilette.
Co.opcration Is Pledged
The congressional bloc's resolu-
tions today pledge members to CO.
operate in behalf of progressive
legislation. to be brought forth by
committees of the bloc during the
present and neXt congress. A gem
eral program announced incluees
as subjects agriculture labor. rail-
roads. taxation, shipping, natural
resources, direct primaries. cor
rupt practices act apd constitu-
tional amendments to'abolish cleo
torai college and obtain earlier
meetings of co gress.
Senator Norris. republican or Ne
braska, was chosen to preside over
today's conference. and Represent
ative Woodruff, republican of
Michigan, was named secretary,
but election of permanent officers
was deferred.
Is Non-Dolitical
Legislative purposes of the bloc
were emphasized by speakers to-
day. Senator La Follotte said that
politics or third party movement
were not involved while Senator
Borah, republican of Idaho, eX-
pressed his complete sympathy"
with the movement If designed to
obtain progressive legislation. He
declared, however. against dealing
with 'politicaI subjects or presi-
Dental possibilities"
Organization of the new bloc in
cluded appointment of n commit
tee on committees to specialize on
the various legislative subjects. An
advisory committee composed of
two members of each party from
the senate and house also was de-
cided upon.