The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-12

ductiop methods are regarded by the sponsors of the conference as fundamental questions involved m the present depression.
 Among the speakers chosen to dis cuss those problems to-day were Senator LaFollette, republican, Wis; Robert F. Scripps, president and editorial director of the Scripps- Howard newspapers; Leo Wolman, an employment expert, and George Soule, of the labor bureau, New York city. Senator Norris, republi- can, Neb, who called the confer ence, himself took charge of the public utilities topic, to which he has devoted almost generation of study and legislative warfare. To- night at the concluding session, re- ports of committees outlining legis- lative research work for the sum- mer will be heard.
 Prohibition was treated with silence as question which has diverted attention from econo nic is- sues until Professor Charles A. Beard, the historian, undertook at last nights session to answer the list of questions propounded to the progressives in letter from Sena- tor Watson, Ind, republican leader of the senate.
 While there is reason for treat ing prohibition as a red herring to drive the people of the United States off the main trail, 1t may be faced" Beard said answering Watson's ques- tions as to whether the 18th amend ment should be repealed.
 Progressive opinion is against any blanket repeal of the 18th amendment which does not substi- tute rational system of public con- trol over the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Should the federal gov ernment take over the enforcement respo nsibility of the state? It should not. This question can only operation between state and local authorities" There was no sign of approval or disapproval from the audience. This group is not inter- ested vitally in prohibition as an issue.
 Senator Norris earlier dismissed the Watson questions by saying that the people of Indiana certainly played a gigantic joke on the coun- try when they elected little Jimmy Watson to the U. s. senate"
 Freedom of the press entered into the discussion when Professor E. A. Ross, of the University of Wisconsin. declared an advertising club Is held over prominent newspapers. and that the press under pressure of Cham bers of Commerce has contributed toward keeping the public "doped and duped."
 Scripps rose to challenge this as- sertion. He said:
 Neither I nor any of the editors of the papers with which have been associated have ever been in- vited into any of the confidential conferences with Chambers of Com merce of which Professor Ross speaks" Apologizing for intruding himself into the discussion, Scripps added that he did not think there was any danger in the influence of Chambers of Commerce.
 Maybe" he said smiling, "the danger is in the influence of news- papers upon the Chambers of com- merce.'
 Breaking completely from the ora torical generalities customary Tn political conventions, these independ- ents drawn from both major parties are now in the midst of frank dis cusslon of public questions which would send shivers down the spine of an oId-line party keynoter.
 "We need more ideas and more thinking" Professor Beard said. "If we have them parties will take care of themselves" Numerous novel proposals are being made for labora- tory examination by continuation committees. which will report con- clusions next fall.
 Third party talk was rigidly ex- cluded from the program. Neither was there any reference to possible presidential opportunities for any of the independents. For the present the movement is concerned with is- sues, not parties nor candidates. Bat ties of the progressives in the next congress may give impetus to a new party. Though most of the pro- gressives, after the LaFollette third party campaign in 1923 became dis couraged. The present Senator La- Toilette. son of the third party candidate in 1924. said a few days ago he did not expect to see a third Dartv organized next year.