Evening star., 1924-06-02
Decision Is Declared Final
Regardless of G. o. P. or
Democratic Actions.
WOULD HOLD CONGRESS
HERE TO PASS FARM BILL
Plans to Nominate Wisconsin Sem
ator to Be Pushed, Following
Talk With Willard.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

b1 DAVID LAWRENCE.
Robert NJ. La Toilette, senior SEN
! ator from Wisconsin, has decided
dennftely to make the race for the
presidency as an independent, ire
spective of whether William G. Nc
Adoo is named on the Democratic
ticket or Calvin Coolidge on the Re-
publican ticket, for he has given I'D
hope of boring from within" the
two old line parties to secure the
enactment Of progressive program.
Mr.. La Toilette believes Congress
should not adjourn now but should
stay in session all summer IL neces-
sary to accomplish agricultural relief
and other needed reforms, and ia
urging his followers in the Senate
and House to block adjournment so
far as Is possible and to make thei-
record clear on this point
Pushes Convention Plans.
These are the opinions expressed
by Oswald Garrison Willard of New
York city, editor OF the Nation, lib
sral weekly. after a conference with
Senator La Toilette today. Mr.. vii
lard goes back to New York to com
plete the organization of a commit
tee to be affiliated with the confer
ence for progressive political action
which is to meet in Cleveland on
July for the purpose of nominating
Senator La Toilette for the presidency.
Tho friends of Mr.. La Toilette"
said Mr.. Willard, are convinced that
IN taking the stand that he does he
Is Tar less actuated by any effect il
may have upon his own personal for
oiu he
voters of the United States an alter
native to voting for either OF the old
parties, which we deem hopelessly
corrupt. We feel that the great need
OF the country today is progressive
political party with a clear-cut pro
gram of reform much along the lines
of those urged by Woodrow Wilson
in his first campaign for the presi
| form and declared that the President
of the United States theretofore had
to go hat in hand to Wall street for
| orders.
Despairs Of Reforn.
Il believe that Mr.. La Toilette finds
himself in the same position as Sena-
tor Norris of Nebraska. who, 1t will
be remembered, did not wish to run
! again for the senatorship because
| after twenty-five years of experience
in Washington he had come to the
conclusion that It was hopeless to
| buck the system as 1t functions in
Washington. Mr.. La Toilette has
| tried for more than thirty years to
reform his party from within. He
has never bolted the Republican par
| ty and did not leave it in 1912, when
Roosevelt cut loose
1T is therefore tremendous
| wrench for. him to do what he has
| said he will do if the two national
conventions do not afford him the
ground for believing that they mean
to purge themselves in dead earnest.
Since there is no likelihood whatever
of the conventions doing this. I can
| not escape the belief that he will an
nounce his candidacy as soon as the
conference for progressive political
action has met.
| Il am frankly astounded a I the of,
| fers of support Mr.. La Toilette has had
| for an independent movement, not
! only from important labor organiza
| tions but from men who were ardent
| followers of Theodore Roosevelt in
! 1912 do not think it will be hard
! to organize non-partisan commit
! tee in New York composed of people
of varying political viewpoints, who
! feel that they must have a ticket
| that they can vote for without apollo
| gies.
| Lokfng Years Ahead.
"Of course, people who feel this way
are not merely thinking about 1924. We
want to see a permanent organization
! come into being which shall elevate
the whole tone of our political life
| and give US new-old leadership
| along the lines of the progressivism
| OF the Theodore Roosevelt and Wood
| row Wilson of 1912. 1t would be
great misfortune, of course, if out OF
| this movement there should be moth
| ing definite left on which TO build
| in the years to come.
NO one can deny that there Is no
essential difference whatsoever be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
ma rites as they are constituted today.
1t is just like the fight over the IN
come taXes-a question whether tney
should be fixed at 80 or SO or 40 per
cent and not a difference of principle
or policy. The same is true OF the
tariff situation today. AS the south
becomes a land OF manufacturers,
more and more Democrats are going
over to the protective theory, so that
the former distinction between the
two parties along tariff lines is rapid
ly being obliterated. What other
issues differentiate them? None"
Vice Presidency Discussed.
Mr. Willard was asked II he knew
who would be considered for the vice
presidency on the La Toilette ticket.
and he said probably an eastern labor
man, but the matter is being very
seriously debated because of the pos
sfbility, remote though it may be. OF
fba aIectoral contest going after
March I next into the Senate. in
which case the upper house must
choose from the two leading vie Z.
presidential candidates.
He believes it Is impossible to fore
cast how many states La Folletts =
viii carry, but he Is surprised at the
number Of politicians and journalists
who say to him that the Wisconsin
senator will capture at least nine o.
ten states.
Because of the close friendship IL
tween Mr.. Willard and Senator ]
Toilette. the foregoing views may [
considered significant. @
Copyright, 1924