The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-11
At The National Capitol
 DAILY WASHINGTON LETTER
 Digest of Who's Who and What's What

Washington-Two of the very youngest senators, Bob LaFallette of Wisconsin and Bronson Cutting of New Mexiso, are largely responsible for the unprecedented bipartisan conference of progressives which was called with the hope of putting econ- omics into politics: It was their idea and they sold 1t to the older men without whose help there could have been no such con- ference. LaTollette Is only 36 and Cutting is AZ and both are fearless young men who will be come in- creasingly important national figures if the progressive movement begins to make progress.
 Neither of them had any idea that 1t was up to them to create q third party movement or that 1t was advisable for them to try. They felt that there appeared to be no hope for progressives in the present leadership either of the republican or democratic party. however. and agreed that both the political and economic situations were such that there was a real chance for pro- gressive legislation on the major problems subsequently submitted as the agenda for the conference.
 Select Five Subjects.
 Those five subjects were unem- ployment and industrial stabilization, public utilities, agriculture, the tar- if and return to representative gov- ernment.
 They had little trouble in per- suading the veteran Norris of Ne braska, the senate's leading inde- pendent; Senator-eIect Edward r. Costigan of Colorado, the bold and brainy former stnriff commissioner. or Wheeler of Montana. who ran for vice president on LaFollette's ticket in 1924, to join them in calling tho gathering. Both Wheeler and Costi-. gan, democrats, believe that the re- cent tactics of their party have given no indication that 1t will attempt to cope with the industrial situation.
 Everyone concerned believes that the progressive groups In both. houses can provide effective politi- caI-economic leadership in the 72d congress if they make the best pos- sible use of the unprecedentedly po- tent balance of power which they are going to haId between the two major parties.
 that despite the liberal tendency of
  'be accomplished from the progress sixe point of view because of the heavily republican, administrations controlled flame duck. House. They contend that q special session was prevented by republican-d n-democratic cooperation because of fear on the part of big business that the new congress would favor the progress sive type of legislation.
 Predicts Better Laws.
 We should be able" says one of the senators principally concerned. to get more good legislation in the next two years than we have had in the last 20 years. What we want lative program which can be sup- ported by men and women of both parties. We wanted to develop such. program with the aid of leading economists and other experts who would come here and exchange ideas,
 "The conference also serves as sounding board from which we can get the situation and our prospective program of the country. We believe the country Is disgusted with the leadership of both parties and that the time Is ripe for an expression OL VrOETebDiVe BcHttEHeut ATOTH tUe people of this country--one of un- precedented proportions. Public sup- port, of course, ts e vital factor in obtaining legtslation to which the powers that be are hostile" Misery in industrial centers and on the farms has demonstrated more clearly than ever that the economic factor is dominant in American life, tho progressives point out.
 Wolman Aids Movement. Of the five round-tables at the conferences, leadership of the most important one was given to Q non- senator. Dr Leo Wolman. employ ment expert of the National Bu- reau of Economies, was chosen to head the important section on un- employment an dindustrial stabiiiza- | ton. WoimaTl served on Herbert IIcover's unemployment committee 10 years ago and Hoover recruited l him as q statistician again during the present depression.
 C0etigan, whose outgpoken inde- pendence ae c democratic tarifl commissioner in the Coolidge adtmfn- | filtration will always Do remembered here. was picked to head the rcund- | table on the tariff. Norris. of course was given the table on public utili- ties Cuttings whose Independence