Evening star., 1924-07-04
independence, Not Ne,o Party.
Declared Progressiues' Ain,
Johnston, in Cleveland Keynote, Praises
La Toilette, attacks G.. o. P. and Demo
crats-Sees Time Ripe for Action.

Mr.. Johnston recited the history of
the progressive movement. pointing
to political victories in the congress
sional elections of 1922 and the fact
ance of power in the last session of
Congress as proof that it was wise
not to launch third party in 1922.
"In mobilizing our army Of
progress" he said, ut has been nee
essary to Re forever vigilant against
excluded boodlers. bosses. exploiters.
profiteers and prejudice blinded
fanatics. We have also kept out those
Communist tools of reaction who,
ties. Trade Union Educational
Leaguers or under even more attrac-
tive designations, are constantly
striving to destroy the American
labor movement and create chaos in
the ranks of the progressives."
Rnps Major Parties.
Mr.. Johnston said the Republicans
with appropriate stupidity had
nominated two reactionaries on "a
platform of meaningless platitudes.'
He asserted the Democratic party had
again proved the fitness of its en-
blem. the patient donkey by strad-
ding its platform on such questions
as child labor. league of nations and
Ku Klux Klan, and added that both
major parties had consistently broken
their platform pledges when in
power.
The chairman denounced the fed
eral reserve system order in 1920
restricting loans for carrying crops.
He said it forced farmers to throw
all accumulated produce upon the
market and caused great price smash
ing.
1T was shrewdly calculated" he
said, that the PROSTATE farmers
would demand that labor also be
hammered down into poverty and
helplessness. But among the great great
was produced. They saw that in
dustrial workers and farmers had one
common set of enemies"
Mr. Johnston declared the time ripe
for national action.
We do not lack strength, we do
not lack organization. and, above all,
we do not lack leadership he said.
Praise for La Toilette.
I'VE have leader-that lifelong,
faithful servant of the people. whose
character. ability and record as a
constructive statesman entitle him to
take his place with Washington. JEFF
ferson and Lincoln. His name is
your hearts. his vision in your souls
Robert NJ La Toilette of Wisconsin.
We need not ask him for pledges
or promises. His entire life is a
pIeuSe Ol SSTNlCe " lHe
ideals and the loftiest aspirations OF
genuine democracy. He has been
tried in all the fire that hatred, envy
and fear could breathe upon him and
has come forth untarnished, un-
scathed and undaunted.'
Mr. Johnston extolled Senator La
Toilette as a force for international
peace declaring he would be trusted
by the progressive forces that now
control France and England
Robert NJ. La Toilette and Ram
say Macdonald would voice the de-
sire of the common people of the
world for peace and for the end OF
imperialist aggression in every part
of the world he said. We want no
more wars"
He urged his hearers to strive for
the election of genuine progressives
in both houses of Congress as well as
President and Vice President.
There is no obstacle" he de-
clared, ito prevent our supporting in
dependent candidates for President
and Vice President while we are en-
gagged in re-electing our progressive
friends to Congress, regardless of
whether they are on the Republican,
Democratic, Socialist or Farmer
Lab 0r tickets"