Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
The Progressive Conference.


Out of the Progressive Conference
comes a long list of proposed legislation,
which is to be followed by still more
proposals. It is obvious that the Pro-
gressive group in Congress does not
| hope to put through the entire pro-
gram, certainly not within the confines
Of the next two years. But it will seek
to have as many of its proposals as pos
sible included in the national platforms
adopted by the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties next year and 1t win fight
for as many Of the proposals as there
seems to be any chance for passage in
the coming Congress.
Many of the proposals have been
made in the past, including the aboli-
ton of the electoral college and the
extension Of the presidential primary to
cover the entire country. One Of the
proposals Of the Progressives on which
particular stress was laid at the con-
ference calls for the creation of q pub
lie agency to lay down an economic
policy for the country. Its purpose is
TO avoid as far as possible the emer-
gencies and distress which have con-
fronted the country during the past
year and a half Even this is not new.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin, Q
prime mover In the conference just
closed, put through a resolution calling
for an inquiry by q congressional COM
mittee into the ACCESSIBILITY of setting
up such an agency before the Congress
adjourned.
Just how successful such an agency
might be is problematical. To many
it VIII smack of interference with bust
ness by government agency. It has
become q fixed belief with others that
hard times and good times must alter
nate in cycles. Economists, however,
take the view that hard times are not
necessary, provided 1t is possible to look
ahead and plan to meet the emergen-
cies which may arise. Whether they
be correct or incorrect, whether hard
times must follow good times as night
follows day or not, it does appear that
certain measures may be adopted, some
plan devised which win make the fall
from prosperity to adversely not so
sharp, some plan which will mitigate
the Ills which follow the transition.
In view Of the serious conditions Of
unemployment and distress which have
existed in this country in recent months,
the note sounded in the Progressive
Conference was far milder than might
have been expected. The "debenture, y
advocated as a measure Of farm relief
by the National Grange and adopted by
the Senate in the last Congress, the
Government operation of Muscle Shoals,
the curtailment Of the power Of courts
to use the injunction in labor disputes,
all were put forward again at the con-
ference. The demand was advanced
that the Federal Government take a
hand in dealing with the needy, even
to the extent of feeding them. However
revolutionary such proposals may appear
to the rockribbed conservative, the con-
ference did not advocate revolution; 1t
did not set up Red" standard. The
hve-day work week was demanded. But
that is a demand that has been adj
vanced by no less a capitalist than John
j. RaSkob, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, supported In the
demand by Alfred E. Smith, former
Democratic candidate for President 1t
is the demand of organized labor, voiced
particularly at the conference by VIII
liam Green, president Of the American
Federation of Labor, who at the same
time opposed recognition Of the Russian
Soviet government by this country.
The Progressives in Congress will hold
the balance of power when that body
meets. 1t may be expected that they
viii seek in every way to advance the
cause Of their legislative proposals
under such circumstances. More and
more leaders in the business world in
this country are giving attention tc
measures and plans which quarter OF
a century ago would have been declared
revolutionary, but which today are
regarded as wise The world does moi
stand still. The radical Of today may
be the conservative Of tomorrow.
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