Evening star., 1924-07-20
Executive Committee of II
Members Is Chosen to
Direct Campaign.
DRIVE FOR PROGRESSIVE
CONGRESS is INTENDED
Old Parties Attacked by Senatorial
Pair as Montanan Accepts
Nomination.

controlled llDeral ana progressive
forces must look elsewhere for
leadership" than to the Republican
or Democratic parties, Senator BurtoI'
K. Wheeler, Democrat, Montana,
cast his lot yesterday with Robert NJ.
La Toilette, independent candidats
for President.
Yielding to the appeal of Senator
La Toilette and group of his sup
porters who had offered to indorse
him. Mr. Wheeler announced that he
would accept the vice presidential
nomination on the La Toilette ticket.
He did SO after having declared sew
eral days ago that while he probably
would support La Toilette, he was
unwilling to become his running
mate.
Senator's Wheeler's decision was
announced in letter to William H.
Johnston, chairman of the Conference
for Progressive Political Action,
which indorsed Mr.. La Follette's can
didacy at its recent Cleveland con-
vention, and head of the group meet
ing here to map out campaign plans.
sees MILLIONS fIe1Sc0.
1t brought from Senator La Toilette
the statement that Mr.. Wheeler's ac-
ceptance was gratifying to him. ''as
it will be to millions of progressive
voters throughout the country"
Burton X. Wheeler is a man of
ism," La Toilette said. He never
has faltered or turned back. In the
struggle against privilege he has
ever been in the front rank of the
peoples army. In him progressives
find leadership in which they re-
pose complete confidence.
THE recent national convention of
the Democratic party outraged the
sentiments and disappointed the hopes
of the rank and file of that party. 1t
left millions of Democrats without
leadership in their own party. Sena
tor Wheeler has supplied this lead
ership, not only for progressive DEM
ocrats. but for the independent citi-
zens unidentified with any political
organization
Bolt Not Complete.
Senator Wheeler, in his letter to
Mr.. Johnston, reiterated by inference
his announced intention of support
ing the Democratic state ticket in
Montana and Senator Thomas e.
Walsh his Democratic colleague, who
is candidate for reelection.
I'm accepting this call" said he.
Il do not abandon my faith in the
Democracy of Thomas Jefferson. / am
a Democrat, but not a Wall street
Democrat. 1 shall give my support
and whatever influence ] may pos
sess to those candidates for office who
have proven their fidelity to the In
terest of the people wherever thes
may be found, but 1 shall oppose everr
man, on whatever ticket he may ap-
pear, who bears the brand of the dol
lar sign
Declaring that between Davis AMI
Coolidge there is only a choice fo'
conservatives to make" Senate
Wheeler asserted that he found him
self unable to support either thi
Republican candidates, who frankli
admit their reactionary, standpat poll
cies, or the Democratic candidate, wis
may claim in we'll chosen phrases
that he is a progressive, but who's.
training and constant association be
lie any such pretension'
Regrets Democrats Action.
81 regret exceedingly" said Nj.
Wheeler, that the Democratic party
in the recent national convention in
New York so completely lost sight f
the fundamental principles of Demoe
racy and ignored the great economic
issues of the present hour. 1t has
wantonly abandoned an opportunity
for great public service that never
before was so clearly within its reach
and so certain to lead to success"
On learning of Mr.. Wheeler's de-
cision, Senator La Toilette called at his
office to extend congratulations, and
later both dropped in on the coli.
ference of La Toilette supporters, he'd
at the headquarters of the Internih
tional Association of Machinists. to elt-
change greetings. Today they will
confer together with Representative
John NJ Nelson of Wisconsin, natiomJ
campaign manager. and others who al e
molding the campaign program.
Decide on Campaign.
At yesterdays session the La Fol
lette supporters, all of whom arr
members of the national committee o
the Conference for Progressive Politf
cal Action, decided that the campaigt
should be managed by joint execu'
tive committee to be composed of II
members, representing the conference
and the La Toilette for President COM
mittee, at present headed by MIR.
Nelson.
The committee approved the plan to
maintain national headquarters in
Chicago and decided to appoint a cam
paign director with Offices also in Chi
cago with a view to co-ordinating
campaign activities.
Decision also was reached to give
special attention to the election to
| Congress of genuine progressives and
the defeat of notorious reactionaries." !"