Evening star., 1924-12-11
THIRD PARTY FATE
I To Be DETERMINED
At CONCLAvE HERE
Two Schools of Thought
Manifest as Progressive
Leaders Assemble.
SOME WANT TO FOUND
SEPARATE ORGANIZATION
Others Prefer to Continue on Non
Partisan Basis of Last
Campaign.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The immediate fate of the third
party movement will be determined
largely at a conference here tomor-
row of the national committee of the
Conference for Progressive Political
Action. In the boardroom of the Ma =
chinists' Building tomorrow morning
the members of this committee Will
thresh out the entire subject.
If IT is determined to go ahead with
n ird-party organizat tIon, then full
plans will be made for a convention
in January. If the decision is con-
trary, the convention may never be
held.
Two schools of thought, it was said
today, will find expression at the
meeting tomorrow. There may be
others. One proposes the formation of
a new political party-prabably to be
called the Progressive party-with
regular party organization, a national
committee. state committees and all
down the line. 1t proposes a national
organization, with power largely con-
centrated at the top.
Would Continue Movement.
The second school of thought looks
to the continuation of the progressive
movement so-called, but from the
ground up-so to speak. 1t proposes
no national organization at present,
but the continuance of the movement
through the various Independent
parties and groups in the State, the
effort being made constantly to
strengthen and develop these inde-
pendent groups. For example, the
Progressive party which wrung sec
ond place from the Democrats in
Idaho and in a number of the other
Western States would be continued,
with State organization. The Farmer
Labor party would be continued in
other States. The proponents of this
plan are not particular what the In
dependents may call themselves.
What they want is to develop
strength and to be ready four years
from now to spring into concentrated
political action. They admit their
overwhelming defeat at the polls last
November Though they believe that
the Progressives made a good show
ing with their 100000 votes.
They insist that the Republican ad-
ministration is not going to DE able
to make good its pledges and that the
progressives will be in a. strong posi-
ton to go to the country in the effort
ito bring the Government back into
the hands OF the people,"
Stand of La Toilette.
Undoubtedly much will depend upon
the position of Senator La Toilette,
standard bearer of the progressives
during the election. He has been in
vited to attend the meeting. He may
not attend. however, it was said to-
day. If he declares for the formation
of a national political organization
his view Will have great effect. Some
of the supporters Of the proposal in
sist that the showing made by the
progressives in the recent election
was such as to make wise and nee
essary the organization of the So
called progressive forces of the coun-
try into a cohesive national political
party.
On the other hand the American
Federation of Labor struck a body
blow at the formation of new
political party which, at least. shouId
be expected to draw largely from or
ganized labor, when IT adhered to its
tradition policy of non-partisan
political action. 1t is said, too, that
some of the railroad brotherhoods
are against the organization of a new
party. These organizations are potent
influences in the conference for pro-
gressiVe political action and if their
thumbs are turned down on the plan
~ q nc" party organization now. 1t
may have a decided effect.
Hopes Were Blighted,
There is no Disgusting the fact that
the results of the election were not
What the progressives hoped for al
though they did not expect to elect
senator La Toilette. They did expect
to carry more States and to roll nm a
larger popular vote. But the leaders
are not abandoning the fight. They
point out that no matter which of the
two schools of thought may prevail
In regard to the continuation of the
progressive movement, the movement
will go on.
The national committee of the Con-
terence for Progressive Political Ac-
ton has about 60 members They
come from all parts of the country,
representing largely the progressive
elements in their sections About a
score of women are members.
Among them are: Miss Mabel G.
Costigan of Washington, Miss Jennie
Bueu of Michigan, prominent in the
State Grange; Mrs. George w. Cole
man of Boston, Mass, and Miss
Elizabeth j. Houser of Girard, Ohio.
Among the men are: William M.
Johnston, president of the Interna-
tional Machfnists, chairman; Warren
b. stone. David B. Robertson, Edward
j. Manion, James p. Noonan. John +
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