Evening star., 1926-11-16
progressives and Democrats.

Democrats doubtless will take to
heart the advice so earnestly and SO
freely given them by the Progressives
In the November issue of the People q
Business. This publication is the
organ of the Peoples Lesisla tive Serv-
ice. an organization into which the
late Senator La Toilette blew the
breath of life. In effect. the Progress
sives accuse tho present Democrat
leadership of making the party A
mere spare tire for Wall Street to
use when the G. O. p. gets pune
ture." Of the party leaders in Senate
and House. Robinson and Garrett. re
spectiyeiy. the Progressives say: The
present leaders, appear 10 he equally
devoid Of ideas. ideals and intestinal
stamina" Having brought this In
Hictment of the Democrats as they are
the Progressives urge them to adopt a
Progressive program of legisla ton,
cast ont their leaders and turn over d
new leaf.
Can the Progressives be angered be-
cause the Democratic party. after its
terrible drubhing in 1924. has again
come to life? Or are they merely seek
ing to stiffen Democratic ba ackbone 10
buck the Republican administra ion
and join with the Progressives in the
assault on President Coolidge? 1t is
no secret that two years ago. some o.
the La Toilette ProEressives had plan
ned the demise of the Democratic
party. They hoped the La Toilette
for-President movement would develop
into a new liberal political party, to
contest with the more conservativ
Republican party.
Their hopes along this line have not
heen realized Furthermore, the Dem
ocrsts during the present Congress
have shown an inclinatio not to block
legislation. This has been a cruel blow
10 the Progressfves. That happy union
between the insurgents i'm the Sena te
and House during the Sixty-eighth
Congress. which gave the insurgents
the ha nee Of power, has faded. Ap-
r1arently the Democrats have decided
that if they are to win the confidence
Of the people. they must sta nd on their
own legs. rather than play second fid-
dle to ha ndful Of radicals Embar-
raising the Republican administration
Is all right with the Democrats. They
revel in it. But pulling the chestnuts
-
Of the Republican party is another
matter. What good would it do the
Democrats if, by acting with the radi-
Gals. they added to the prestige Of the
Republican Progressives?
The savage attack made by the Pro-
Eressives in the Peoples Business on
the present Democratic leadership is
scarcely calculated to bring about har-
monious action between the Demo
Gratis and the insurgents at the com.
ing session NJ Congress. or in the new
Congress next year. The truth OF the
matter is that the Democratic aders
are frankly off the Progressives and
have been since the terrible smash Of
1924. The country demonstrated then
that it was not radical-not by many
millions Of votes. The reconstructed
Democratic party is making an effort
to return to so-called Jeffersonian
principles OF government. which are in
wide contrast with some of the legis-
lative cure-alls advanced by the radi,
calls.
The radicals have been looking for.
ward to a. to them, happy and advan-
tageous session of Congress. But if
the Democrats decline to play with
them they are out Of luck. OF course,
they are at liberty to follow the Demo
following anybody?