The Washington times., 1924-06-19

can party was mainly responsible.
but Of which the Democrats were
not altogether guiltless. 1t was
made perfectly clear to the entire
country that gang Of crooks sur
rounded the present administration,
and that President Coolidge showed
little inclination to interfere with
their nefarious practices. The sale
of influence was shown to be
commonplace with the Republican
administration: the so-called Depart
ment of Justice, under the regime
of Daugherty and Jess Smith, had
become merely q cynical go-between
for various brands Of crooks.
Graft on a positively herculean
scale has been shown wherever
there are government funds to be
wasted or Incorporated. The in
fluence Of corrupt business inter-
ests extends throughout the ma
chinery Of the Republican admin
istration. The blatant patriotism of
the disgraced Fall was shown, as
intelligent persons knew 1t to be
long before, vicious attempt to
foment strife with a peaceful neigh
boring country. for the benefit of
oil and other big business interests.
In short. the Republican party al
! most Fundamentally, and the Demo
cratic party, to far too great an
extent, have been shown to be the
corrupt handmaidens of big bust
ness oligarchy.
THE success of the conference
for political action in attacking the
grip Of this big business oligarchy,
whose rise to power was so clearly
foreseen by Jack London nearly
twenty years ago in The Iron
Heel has been shown again, dur.
ing the last few months, by the
victories of Senators Norris and
Brookhart in their primary cam.
paigns, despite the open and
avowed hostility of their parties,
and in the bitter reaction Of the
Republican powers toward the pro.
lgressive movement. John S.
Adams, George B. Lockwood and
the other former members Of the
Republican directing forces de-
manded that the progressives be
read entirely out OF the party, re-
fgardless Of the fact that these PRO-
gressives were put into office in Re
publican States and by Republican
votes.
Since the nomination Of Coolidge
and Dawes by the Republican party
the propag anda for the nomination
OF reactionary Democrat has re-
doubled, and the indications are
that the moneyed interests intend,
II 1t is humanity possible, to put
over Underwood or John w. Davis
at the New York convention. All
these reactionary efforts to deprive
the people Of an opportunity to
vote for a real progressive are
most welcome to. the Conference
last, politics will be brought out in
through on schedule, and the people
will know, as they have never
known in the past, the real facts
about business control Of the
i United States Government. The
time for camoufIage has gone,
| thanks largely to the efforts Of the
Conference for Progressive Political
| Action.
"To arouse the people from in.
dustrial and political autocracy Is,
briefly stated, the aim Of this
organization The brutality OF
Garyism and the cunning of Mel.
lonism has been concentrated To
crush the resistance Of the farmers
and workingmen to the further en-
richment of tax-dodsers, manipula-
Of over-capitalized corporations, and
war profiteers, and to the prospec'
| tive ruin Of the producers.
1.-THE necessity for the erection OF
some effective progressive organiza-
| ton was overwhelming shown in the
deliberate 'deflation' policy of the
Federal Reserve Board, with its re.
sulting impoverishment Of the farm.
err and the unemployment of four to
five million men, in 1920, among the
working classes. Destitution was
deliberately manufactured in order
that the rapidly accumulated war
time dollars might be increased from
their 50.cent wartime value to par
through forcing reduction in wages
and commodity prices.
"The necessity for such an organ
iZation was again shown In the
lavishly subsidized open-shop move
Inent, masquerading under the name
Of the American PLAN The urgent
necessity that farmers and working
men unite against their powerful
enemies who control the wealth OF
the nation has been demonstrated
over and over again in the postwar
years."
Principles Of Conference.
The declaration Of principles or
which the conference is based IL as
follows:
1--WE hold these truths to be self.
evident; that all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienahle
rights, that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
that to secure these rights govern
ments are instituted among men, de
irving their just powers from the
consent of the governed.
THAT government is instituted for
the common good, for the protection
safety, prosperity and happiness OF
the people, ana not for the honor, OF
profit Of any man, family or class
| Of men.
THAT no man. corporation, OF
| group of men shall have any other
title to receive compensation from
the public than that which IL meas
ured by the value Of the services
they render the public