The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-07-03
PR0GRESSIVES
SOON TO FACE
SEVERE TEST
Death of Senator LA Toilette
May Soon Mean End of
Cause in Country
BY CHARLES =. STEWART
NEA Service Writer

Washington, July 3.-upon the
next twelve months political develop
ments growing out Of Senator Robert
NJ La Follettc's death depends ma
tional Progressive ism's future, per.
haps for many years.
Is Progrcssivc-is ism 4 movement OF
which La Toilette was no more than
part-a mighty important part
but only part?
Or was he the whole thing?
If the formers the case, of course,
even the death Of Il strong leader
can spell no more than a temporary
setback, a little more delay.
II the latter, the cause, too, Is
dead.
To be sure. thcrc'lI be progress,
with small "p." but the group the
Wisconsin senator led inevitably will
break up-varIous political careers
probably will end with the expiration
Of current terms.
One thing which suggests weak
ness, Mt first thought, may prove to
be Progressive sms strcngt h
though referred to as a "bloc,' it
never was Il hard and-fast alignment,
like party, with regular adherents,
requiring TO ne lcn.
Still, La Toilette did sound the
call for every rally which the in.
dependents made.
Will somebody else he found to
do this in his place? Or is no par
ticular leader needed?
The next session of Congress will
begin to show. Administration
spokesman profess to feel sure al
ready that insurgency is thing of
the past.
In reality, nobody can tell without
definite test
If Progressive isms fate depends
on successor to LA Toilette who
can fill his shoes, nobodys in sight
Senator Borah has the necessary
qualities of strength, courage and
magnetism. but he isn't a Progress
ive--with a big "P"-all the time
A follower may be a parttimcr. but
leader must be consistently on the
job.
Senator Norris is so regular in his
Progressive ism as to be almost the
real thing. but he hasn't the pug
nacity La Toilette possessed. He can
put up a tcTTlll IT, llEHL wien Hc ilhcS
but he doesn't always like.
Senator Wheelcr's a "wholc hog
Progressive and nobody ever was
reader for a scrap. but he isn't as
yet, political heavyweight. which
is essential in this case.
Besides, he's a Democrat, and to
be effective at this time, Progressive.
ism needs to draw from the Republi.
cans strength.
That about cxhausts the list OF
availablcs.
Progressive ism, if it's to survive
without La Toilette, must survive or
its own merits. 1t can't hope to be
pulled through by virtue Of stron.
leadership.
This, of course. refers to the Pro
gressive-ism which was launched a
the Cleveland conference year ago
Something else may develop late
along the same lines. That's diff
ferent thing.
Needless to say, the regular Re
publicans will spare no effort. havin,
been afflicted far worse by Pro
gressive ism than it has troubled tn
W iidht " Sai'
for regularity at the election of 1926
With La Toilette gone, they ar
much more hopeful Of Senator Len
roots return to the upper house an
hopes are expressed of putting
regular in La Follette's own seat.
They can't do this until Novembe
Of next year, since the vacancy will
be filled temporarily by Governo
Blaine's appointment, and. as he is
Progressive himself, Progressiv
will be his choice
One remark by Senator Wheele
may prove significant-that LA Fol
lette dead will be more powerful eve
than La Toilette alive"
This isn't impossible His nam
may become one to coniure by.
With his death, much Of the bit
terness which was felt toward hir
living will disappear.
localized, it is quite likely Their
will be immense strength for tn
cause he preached in his memory
perhaps strength greater than hi
own, living man on the Senate flooI
Static electricity is the princ'p'
cause Of fire in cotton gins durin