The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-13
LIBERALS AIM
DEFINITELY At
Third PARTY
Immediate Formation Is
Barred by Electoral
College System.
ALL DENoUNCE HOOVER
Full Dawn Is ViSioned by
Norris at Progressive
Conference.
BY RAY TUCKER
Times staff Corresuoudeut


WASHINGTON, March Is. -
Creation of a permanent, bipartisan
organization to mobilize and adj
vance liberal thought and legisla-
tion doomed today as a probable
outgrowth of the progressive con-
ference held here by Republican,
Democratic and Farmer Labor
members Of congress and outside
experts.
Although the conference did not
discuss third parties or candidates
specifically, the movement definitely
was headed in that direction by
Senator George w. Norris (Rep.,
Neb), conference chairman.
Only the electoral college system
prevents immediate formation of q
third party, he said, and one of the
chief legislative proposals adopted
by the conference conCemplates
abolition Of that machinery for
election Of the President.
Full Dawn to Come"
In the moving scene that marked
Norris turning over of "the torch of
liberal thought TO Senator Robert
NJ. La Toilette (Rep., Wis.,, the
Nebraskan spoke of the full dawn"
to come. He predicted that the
progreSsives could sweep the ma
ton if the Democrats nominated a
conservative like President Hoover.
and If the electoral college system
did not bar third party.
Tt was generally believed that the
progressives, consciously or not, had
served notice on the Democrats
that, if that party wants the support
of liberals throughout the country,
it must nominate a liberal candi-
date.
1t also was felt that, in view of the
friendly exchange between the con-
ference promoters and Governor
Franklin d. Roosevelt, of New York,
he would stand the greatest chance
of obtaining progressive support.
Denounce Hoover's Policies
Almost every speaker, including
the senators and industrial and
agricultural spokesman, denounced
the Hoover administrations policies,
Owen d. Young Of New York, Cen
eral Electric chairman, also was as
sailed. by. many who took part in
the public utilities discussion. With
out mentioning names Norris indi-
Gated he. thought the power trust"
was seeking to nominate Hoover on
one side and Young on the other.
AS Norris pointed out, the confer
ence simply laid the groundwork for
the task of arousing public opinion
behind a definite program to be
framed in detail between now and
December.
Meanwhile, the unemployment
committee headed by La Toilette
will make a rapid survey Of condl-
tons with a view to demanding a
special session of congress for di-
rect federal relief, If necessary. La
Follette's report said there were
public and private funds available
for "only a month"; and that suffer-
ing might become even more acute
after that period. He impressed on
his committee the need of imme-
date action.
Deplores Federal Action
"T7ais committee" his report read,
goes on record as imploring the
federal. authorities to make pro-
vision for the millions of American
citizens who are on the verge of
starvation at a time of general
agricultural and industrial break
down. The adjournment of con-
gress at a time of q great ns-
tional crisis is an evasion of its
primary duties"
The La Toilette committee pro-
posed creation of necessary public
machinery for planning and con-
troll and national system of CO.
ordinated employment exchanges.
1t will make an investigation of
the advantage of unemployment or
insurance funds, the problems in
volved in a Stabilizing industry, the
place of public works In industrial
sterilization, means to increase pur-
chasing power, a shorter work day
and week, coordination of local,
state and federal relief activities.
The tariff report of the commit
tee headed by Senator Edward P.
Costigan sDem, Colo), urged down.
ward revision, summing up its pro-
posals concretely.
Administrative and other changes
(of the Hawley- Smoot act) should
include more certain standards for
prompt and efficient determination
of excessive tariff rates, and the
recapture by congress of the tariff
changing powers now exercised by
the President - the r-epoI-f Soid