Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
FARLEY OF PROGRESSIVE
LEADERS TO PLAN LAWS
No New Party Contemplated, Says
Senator La Toilette in Speech
to Radio Audience.

stituents-should properly be expected
to give heed to the problems which con-
front this Nation as q whole.
Three days ago the Seventy first
Congress adjourned after having been
In session almost all Of the period Of
depression. It's members have been I'M
able to escape knowledge Of the predica-
ment in which the Nation finds itself.
But If, in the future, some one looks
through the statutes enacted by the
Seventy-flrst Congress, he will find but
few laws enacted dealing with the
economic crisis Loans were granted to
those farmers in the drought area who
were able to furnish unimpaired secur-
ity The Federal Governments public
works were hurried up by 100000, 900
or so.
It does not take long to recount the
remaining achievements Of the Seventy
first Congress. The first is the agricul-
tural marketing act, which has failed
strikingly to alleviate the long-standing
agricultural depression. The second is
the Hawley-Smoot tariff, which has
contributed nothing except further dis
location of world economic conditions.
Congress passed few measures
such as the reorganization of the Fed
quired by national considerations. The
rest Of its time, with few exceptions,
was spent upon the customary mass Of
bridge acts. little administrative de-
tails and problems of purely local i'm
portance.
The immediate unemployment situa-
ton was left to the chance operations
of voluntary assistance" Only two
constructive measures, sponsored by
Senator Wagner, succeeded after long
delay in becoming law. One of these
authorized more detailed employment
statistics, which, however. will not avail
much unless we can obtain leadership
which will act on the basis of the infor-
nation made available. The second
measure sets up method Of planning
Federal public works far In advance.
It can, however, have little effect on the
present situation unless 1t be protracted,
and 1t should be noted that Federal
public works are normally but per
cent of the total construction in the
United States and bulk very small in
comparison with State and municipal
public works. Here again we need able
leadership to carry an excellent prtn-
ctple further.
Sought White House Help.
Those members of Congress who were
keenly aware of the necessity of getting
at the fundamental problem sought in
vain for leadership from the White
House. They found none among the
recognized leaders of the parties repre-
Sented in Congress. A progressive
minority in each of the major parties
fought for direct unemployment relief
to feed the hungry, and to restore pur-
chasing power, for measures to control
and check future unemployment, for
constructive farm legislation, for more
intelligent tariff making, for sound
legislation to assure the utilization of
public utilities for the public benefit,
and for other measures to provide
greater economic certainty to the people
of this country, and a more equitable
distribution of the proceeds of our
economic organization.
Practically all Of these measures, ex-
cept the two Wagner bills, were killed
of. The failure Of these constructive
efforts was due to: lack of sufncient
support In the Senate, opposition from
the White House, and an obstructive
attitude on the part of administration
leaders in the House Of Representatives.
The elections of last November have
greatly increased the strength of the
ProgreSsiyes in both houses Of Con-
gress. Although still In a minority,
Progressives win have increased in
fiuence in determining the course OF
legislation in the next Congress. A
great responsibility rests upon the
Progressives, therefore, to formulate a
constructive program IN this critical
economic situation.
The intricate question of fact and of
policy involved in the major problems
which confront the people Of this Nation
today cannot be solved by the intel
lgence or the efforts of few men and
women. Mutual consultation and the
interchange Of ideas among public
spirited citizens are essential If sound
legislation is to be proposed.
Conference Ii Called.
To this end, progressive Senators of
both parties have summoned a national
conference Of progressives to meet in
Washington next Wednesday and Thurs
day. Invitations have gone out to a
limited number of men and women who
have evidenced leadership in the pres
ent crisis, in the belief that the prob
lens which press for attention must,
and can, be solved without consideration
Of partisan or political advantage
This conference is not called for the
purpose of organizing a new political
party. 1t Is not even a political con-
ference in the ordinary sense. It is to
be directed solely toward the formula
ton of a constructive legislative pro-
gram to be presented and fought for at
the next session of Congress. To permit
real interchange Of ideas, the number
invited has necessarily been limited to
some of those who have shown leader
ship in public affairs, either in or out
Of ONCE, and to men and women who
are recognized as experts and author
tiles on the subjects which are to be
taken up by the conference. Only those
who have been invited and accredited
RRCnRTC