The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-06-08

Washington.-The Democrat offici-
ally acknowledge that Senator La Foil
cite. branded as an enemy of his cOun-
try by the patrioteers and still called
red in the best circles, will be the big
power in the next session of congress.
While the administration Republi-
cans watch every move of the WiscOn-
sin militant with trepidatiOn, the Dem
Ocrats~ are ready to make a deal with
him. They are willing to lend their
votes in the senate to give him control
of legislation, if, in exchange, he per-
mits them to have control of patron
age. In addition to this generous Of
fer, am told, they would agree to
throw their votes together with those
of the Progressive-Labor bloc and
make him chairman of the powerful
appropriations or equally powerful
judiciary committee.
This is news of special interest in
view of admission of party leaders
here, after studying a revised list OF
presidential primaries of 1924, that
both the Democratic and Republican
conventions are in danger of control
by the people" =,
The list of states which will hold
primaries shows that the PrOgresslves
have a big chance to capture fOrmid-
able groups of delegates from both
the old parties.
It is estimated that they can at this
time reasonably claim prospect OF VIC
tory in eight of the 10 states in the
west and middle west. North Dakota
which votes March Is, and South Da-
kota, which will hold primaries March
%, are counted as certain to name
progressive delegations. In Michigan
there is more than an even chance OF
progressive victory, according to re-
DOrts here, while in Wisconsin, La
Toilette remains firmly in the saddle.
Illinois is said to be ripe for a revolt
against the machine politicians of both
parties while such states as Nebraska
OREGON, Montana and California are
looked upon as providing excellent
battle grounds for the progressive
forces. States like Colorado, Arizona
Kansas and Washington, which have
no convention primaries, offer an op-
pOrtunity to the prOgTessives to amass
another batch of delegates. Both ole
parties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana
and Massachusetts, old guard strong
llOlNlog dIC lli4CotbCAACO Will D1ObCL LctS
tiOnal strife.
The regulars here do not conceal
their concern that this situation
threatens to upset the machine plans
for handpicked delegates. This is
particularly disturbing to the Harding
administration, for it makes the La
Toilette specter which haunts Harding
in his quest for denomination ever
more formidable.
Fighting Bob,' sitting pretty, ISM
telling what he thinks of the Demo
Gratis generosity. Other members Of
the Progressive-L Labor bloc are betting
dollars to doughnuts that he will turn
the poor Democrats down flat.
1t should be understood that it ISM
because they love La Toilette that the
Democrats are willing to give him the
Craftsmanship of one of the two com
mittees hitherto requested to a stand
pat reactionary like former Senator
Warren of Wyoming who headed the
appropriations committee in the las
congress, or old Knute Nelson, the late
Minnesota senator, who ran the judic
larry committee. They are just anx
ious to split the Republicans wide
open. AS for legislation, the Progress
Sive-Labor bloc will control that any
way, so coalition with it wouldn'
work any terrible hardship on the
Democrats.