Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-02
Senators Invite Five Cover
norS and House Members to
Discuss Future Plans.
NEW LIBERAL PARTY
IDEA NOT INVOLVED
Program of Legislation for Next
Session of Congress Will Be
Mapped Out at Meeting.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Progressive leaders, irrespective OF
political party allegiance, have been
asked to meet in Washington March II
and IL to formulate program of pro-
gressiVe legislation to be fought for
when the new Congress assemblies, ii
was revealed today.
The call for the meeting, issued by
committee of Senator'S headed by Sen
ator Norris of Nebraska, distinctly states
that there is no purpose to organize a
third or new liberal party.
Five Governors Invited.
Five Governors of States have been
invited to attend the conference and
also members Of the House and Senate.
The five Governors invited are Roose-
welt of New York. Pinchot of Pennsyl-
vania, Olson of Minnesota, Farmer
Laborite; La Toilette of Wisconsin and
Meier Of oregon, all regarded as pro-
gressive- minded.
The meetings of the progressives are
to be held IN the La Fayette Hotel, and,
1t Is said, will be in the nature of a
round-table discussion rather than a
convention.
1t has been reported that Prof. John
Dewey of Columbia University, who re-
Gently urged Senator Norris to head a
third liberal party, had been invited
to attend the conference. While the
progressives have the greatest respect
for Prof. Dewey, it was said today that
his name had been omitted from the
list so as to emphasize the fact that
the proposed conference has nothing to
do with the organization Of a new
political party.
COstigan on Committee.
The progressive Senators who form
the committee which has issued the
call for the conference are Senator
Norris of Nebraska, Senator La Toilette
of Wisconsin, Senator Cutting of New
Mexico, Republicans; Senator Wheeler
Of Montana, Democrat, and Senator
elect Edward p. CoStigan, Democrat,
from Colorado, and former member
OF the Tariff Commission.
All OF the members Of the progIes-
sive group in the Senate, including
Democrats as well as Republicans, have
been asked to attend and also the
progressives in the House. Representa-
tive La Guardia of New York, Repub-
ncan, Is understood to have been active
in the matter at the House end of the
Capitol.
Senator Borah of Idaho, one of the
progressive group in the Senate, said
today that he probably would attend
the conference.
The conference will consider legisla-
ton dealing with the water power prob
lem and number of other economic
subjects.
Wants Economic Program.
The call for the conference sent out
by the Senate Committee asserts that
no program of constructive legislation
in the present economic crisis has ben
formulated and declares that the pur-
pose Of the conference is to draft such
program. Every effort Is being made
by members of the committee sending
out the call to make it clear that they
new political party. Democrats, Re-
publicanS and members of the Farmer
Labor party have been invited to attend
the conference.
There will be no effort to wean away
from their party allegiance any mem
Der OF Congress or other person who
attends the conference. In addition to
Governors OF States and members of
Congress, invitations have been ex-
tended to several leading economists.
Senator Norris said today that about
100 invitations had been sent out for
the Progressive conference. Among the
subjects which will be discussed are
public utilities, including the water
power problem; old age pensions, taxa
ton and unemployment. Included in
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