Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-05
Progressives in Con-
ventiOn at Cleveland
Hear Characteristic
Statement, Read by
Son Confident He
Will Be Endorsed in
Proceedings Today

Cleveland, Ohio. July 4-(By A. P.)
Senator Robert II. Lafollette OF
Wisconsin formally announced today
ti,ot he would be an Independent
candidate for president.
Immediately after the senator's
abatement had been read to tho con-
,entlon by his son. Robert NJ. La
fo,cttc. Jr., Il motion was offered by
t,ernan Wills. vice president OF the
r,othcrhood of locomotive engineers,
+. endorse the candidacy. With the
deInpatcs yelling Let's go" OPP
roaition to this procedure developed
from Socialist sources.
Morris llilluuitt. Ne" York, begged
r,. convention not to act until II hdd
f,lIs organized. Amid confusion
Ild.se Jacob ranken. of the New
1ork municipal court, made point
~ order that until the convention
ygs organized it could not act. TINS
,as upheld by William Johnston.
chairman Of the gathering and the
.uomut To- rush through the Iafol-
Inc endorsement. was dropped.
Friends Of I.nfollettc were conh-
amt hy the demonstration That nc
,rmpluicd mention of his name
,rouphout the day. that approval OF
t.g candidacy would lie given tomor-
low before adjournment.
Gro those who gave me tie honor
ut this invitation | owe an unequlVo-
eat answer" said the statement. u
proceeded to make an unequivocal
aaccptance of the conventions en-
oorscment
lafollotto declared the nation Is
FACING the most mom"ntous Crisis Ill
our time" with predatory interests
i1 control Of American government.
Ito took II slap at both the Republic
cam and Democratic pparteS. declar-
ing they had failed the people.
He declared tho time ripe lot
militant political movement tndepen-
don't II the old parties and rcspoh-
sayc to "the needs of the common
lcoplr' ,o,,
"Thc necessity for an independent
rrncrcgsivc movement lies IN the
failure Of the two Old parties 10
pnrrr themselves of the clements
that hctrav the people. Eoth are uh-
dor tho power OF corrupt wealth
President Coolidge WAS tne l'",'N
defender Of organized wealth by 'he
message which added that the Demo
cratic platform adopted at New lork
does not meet the needs OF the ma
ton -
THE fact that esentatives OF
oreanI2cd wealth voted Tor that
r,atform" he added. lis suifcleht
proof Of its character.
Even If both the Democratic ana
Republican parties had adopted pro-
ltegstve platforms. the people wouln
know that neither would be trusted
TO keep heir pledges. ,,
The real issues have been IGNORED
Is the two old parties" contendca
Mr.. Iafollctte. adding that nom
presidential nominees would owe
debt TO bosses and big business,
THE markets are manipulated ana
roHts fixed on all farm products
said the statement which averrea
that this reacted against both pro-
Queer and consumer.
III We would not submit TO an
omrcror We should not submit TO an
autocrat of trade" said senator La
Toilette.
Both parties have always re-
sardcd thoir platforms as tn.y ,.
gard them today. not as contrae's'
hat rs devices TO catch votes
go break the combined power o.
big business over government an"
economic conditions. Is the para
mount issue facing the people.
IF tho Progressive will hut unite
Continued on Page t2-Col. %