Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-20

Numerous conclusions have been
drawn by the country as to the results
of the recent conference OF members OF
Congress who are interested in progress
sive policies. Most favorable among the
appraisals are those which emphasize
the thought that the conference offered
a forum for general discussion of prof.
ects which may or may not be salts
factory to the country. Another phase
deals with the effect on party organiza-
tons, with special reference to the
Democratic party or to a third party,
although leaders of the conference de-
MED any intention to leave the old
parties.
Two major effects" which are en-
phasized by the Topeka Daily Capital
are ''the focusing of attention on the
conference itself and on the committee
reports to be made next December which
are calculated to bring progressivism out
of the clouds and advise the public as
to its concrete meaning" That paper
holds that adoption of a definite pro-
gram or platform understood widely by
the people would be long step toward
ultimate formation Of a Progressive
party"
"The Progressive leaders," says the
New orleans Times-Picayune, appear
to be feeling their way toward hard
and-fast offensive and defensive ALI
ance between their members in both the
old parties. That, we gather, will be
their ma or effort between now and next
years election. That they are by no
means confident of its success is indi-
Gated by their cautious approach to the
formulation of concrete legislative pro-
posals, by their conferences avoidance
of such controversial issues as, for ia
miliar example prohibition, and by
their unwillingness to break boldly away
from the old parties and set up one OF
their own"
"The influence of the conference" in
the opinion of the Newark Evening
News, will be shown most impresSively
by the selection of presidential lcandi-
dates of the major parties. The in
surgents have indicated a preference for
Gov. Roosevelt over other Democratic
candidates. In this they may have
overplayed their hand. Mr.. Roosevelt is
carving a great deal of nl-asSorted
baggage at an early stage in the cam
paign. Insurgent approval adds much
to his load. With the vets and drys,
the Southern Democrats, RaSkob Demo-
Gratis and Tammany Hall he has enough
diverse elements to juggle with. If the
insurgents have done nothing else, they
have focused attention on the need of
a liberal and conservative party"
X X x
"Both the Republican and Democratic
parties have reason for brow wrinkllng,
thinks the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
when any such meetings are being
held. The danger of third party is
not less, but greater, now than in 1912,
when Roosevelt's leadership OF the Pro-
gressives cost the Republicans an cleo
ton. The political opinion to which the
Progressives appealed at that time has
persisted and has grown tremendously"
where can the ProgresSiveS make
their power felt?" asks the Kansas City
Star, with the answer to the query:
In Congress? Maybe so. But there
are the President and his veto power to
be reckoned with. So it goes. Yet
there ought to be, and is, place for
the Progressives. And it is primarily in
Congress, not because they can or should
get across all the legislation they adj
vance, but because they can and should
set I'D demands that may gain falr
hearing. They can be stimulus TO
the party regulars, who may lean as lar
in one direction as the ProgresslVes IN
another. But somewhere, and 10 tns
extent the ProgreSSiVeS provoke ana
stand for genuine issues, a fair balance
NAV be struck, extremes in either d1rec-
ton avoided and legislation of sound
and essential nature may be the result.
''It is not remonstrance, least or all
fear, that should be provoked by the
utterances and resolves OF the Progress
sives," believes the New York Times.
"Rather is it a kindly word of warning. |
They cannot do what they set out to
perform. They will soon be placing |
themselves in the position, which they |
abhor, of making promises to the people |
which they are unable to keep. Yet |
their enthusiasm. their ardor for i'm
provement, are. too valuable an asset in
our public life to BE- incontinently |
brushed aside. Some of them may live /
to see achieved a part of Their desires. |
Let us hope that none of them will be- |
come so discouraged as not to know |
continually the Joy of glorious fighting |
even when, they lose" ~
diacpssioIrs things that for the ueat |