The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-20
M'ADOO { ,.zAS PROGRESSIVES AID IN WAR ON (. 0. P. Ex-Secretary Sees Grave Danger In Ascendency
 Of Privilege COOLIDGE'S RECORD
 PUT UNDER FIRE Honesty Not Questioned, But His Indifference
 Is Played
iBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.- William G. McAdoo, in his first extended statement since the democratic national con- vention, declared today that the only chance to purify" the government and to accom- plish the reforms demanded by the people is to elect Davis and Bryan"
 In a letter written from Johns Hopkins hospital, Bal timore, where MT. McAdoo re- gently underwent an opera tion, he informed democratic national headquarters that he would be forced to abandon his plans for an extensive speech making campaign, but that through letters and tele- grams to friends in various states he was doing his tut most to help the cause"
 Ut is great pity" the letter said, "tbat the progressives led by La Fol lette and Wheeler and the democrats led by Davis and Bryan, cannot present a united front against the common enemy"
 Demands Respect
 Referring to the candidacy of Sena- tors La FolIette md Wheesers Mir Nc Adco declafeu tl1at while he was nor in accord with much that Senator Lu Toilette is advocating, Gas for instance lis proposed court amendment to the Constitutiorl). nevertheless he deserves admiration and respect for the courage cus fight he has. made against en- trenched privilege and the invisible forces of government and for the fight he is now making to drive the corrupt and incompetent republican administra- tion out of power."
 But" he continued, "we are con fronted with a practical question of how reaction can be unseated, adding that the success of the democratic ticket offered the best means to that end.
 II regret exceedingly" said MT. Nc Adoo's letter, addressed to Senator Swanson of Virginia, head of the demo- cratic speakers bureau, "that 1 have heen obliged to abandon my plans to make an extensive speaking trip in the national campaign. Not only have l been compelled to remain in the hos nital longer than anticipated, but my physician, Dr. Hugh H. Young. em- phatically advises against my under taking the strenuous work involved in speechmaking campaign.
 Wants United Front
 "If the forces of reaction represented by the Coolidge administration succeed in November it will be due solely to di- vision in the ranks of the progressive and liberal forces in America. It is a great pity that the progressives, led by La Toilette and Wheeler, and the demo- crats, led by Davis and Bryan cannot present a united front against the com mon enemy. But while this is impos- sible now, the question is what can best be done to prevent the reactionary Re publican party from regaining control of the government for another four years.
 "Mr. Hughes and the articulate mem bers of the administration ere attempt ing skillfully to divert attention from the real issue by a combined assault upon the militant La Toilette with the hope that they will drive all tlmld peO- ple to the support of Mir. Coolidge by making them believe that La Toilette is a red menace, determined to overthrow our Constitution and change our. form of government.
 Of course, this is political bunk
 of the first order. The republic is
 in graver danger from the continued
 asCendenCy at Washington of priv
 iIege, reaction and corruption than
 from any of Senator La FOllette's
 proposals.
 While there is much that the senator advocates, which do not indorse, never theless, he represents a vibrant and wholesome movement in our public life, a movement that is necessary to help arouse the conscience of the nation, atrophied and poisoned by the corruD- tion and incompetence of four years of the most astonishing mis-government in the history of the republic. Free dis cussion is the best method, the same method, the Constitutional method of dealing with public questions.
 "We are confronted with practical
 (COntinued on Page TwOl