Evening star., 1924-11-02

party. whatsoever. either East or
West, has more complete or more
reliable information as to the trend
of public sentiment in the various
sections of the United States than
ha- the Progressive headquarters here
in Chicago. We know that conditions
in various States do not warrant any
of the predictions made by the Re-
publican organization. True, the Re-
publican machine has been able to as
semble an unprecedented slush fund,
but it has not been able to influence
public opinion as in former years.
Great Vote Predicted.
Republican managers have learn
ed, as We have learned, that the La
Toilette campaign has gathered
strength beyond all hope and pre-
dictions. The Republican machine
knows that In many of the States the
electoral vote it is claiming for Cool
idge will surely be cast for La Fol-
lette Their boastings are solely for
the purpose OF catching the band
wagon vote, and in this they will fail.
From now on the new Progressive
party must and will play the lead
ing role in the affairs Of the Govern
ment in the United States"
Whether the La Follette-Wheeler
management will be able to weld a
really strong liberal party out Of the
discordant groups which have fol-
lowed the Progressive standard dur
ing this campaign is a question. One
thing appears reasonably certain, If
new party is to be born and to be-
come SO strong as to replace one of
have to be given over and a single
cohesive organization will have to be
formed
Breaks in Ranks ALREADY.
It is in the formation Of such. an
organization that the stress will
come. 1t has been sought through
the executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, the rail-
cations to line up labor for La Fol-
lette during the campaign.
But there have been breaks in the
ranks, the latest appearing in New
York. Whether the withdrawal of
Endorsement of La Toilette by the ex-
ecutive council Of the Trades Union
Council of Greater New York
was regular, or whether 1t was the
work of a Pump" meeting of the
council. as claimed by Samuel Com
pers, the fact remains that important
This is a rumpus in only one Of the
groups which have been back Of La
Toilette. If the new Liberal party is
to have any degree, of success in this
country-certainly should a measure
of present prosperity continue in the
United States-it will have to modify
its platform. The people are not ready
to swallow some of the proposals OF
the La Toilette platform, notably
that which deals with the courts and
that which proposes government own.
ership of the railroads.
Future Of DeAoefats.
~he Democrats in their efforts to
defeat Coolidge have done their
utmost to aid the La Toilette party
for that is what 1t may now be
termed in view Of the statement
issued by Mr.. Nelson, In many Of
thase Western States they have
practically agreed to wipe the Demo
cratic party of tho map, always with
the intention, of course, Of resur-
recting the Democratic party at some
later date. -
But the Democratic party in some
States had been absorbed prior to
the present campa!g !gn-as in the case
. the F,armer-Labor. party in Min
nesota. 1t may find that to resur-
-~~t the Democratic party, even, In
Ltates like California and Washing
ton, will be a difficult task after the
election.