The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-16

II into the DemOcIdllC parry.
Besides Hi" johnson, two other
progressive Republican senators who
bolted from Hoover to Roosevelt last
fall-"Bob" La Toilette OF Wiscon-
sin and Bronson Cutting Of New
Mexico-are up for reelection next
year
Like Senator johnson, both La
Toilette and Cutting face stiff pri-
mary fights if they choose to re-
main in the Republican party. In
al three states conservatives are IN
control of the Republican party
machinery and are determined 10
punish the boilers.
Situation Like 1850, 1890
This situation is believed by some
strategists to provide perfect set
ting for another of those rare ma
ior political shifts, such as was &C
complished in the 1865, when one
wing of the Wing party was alb
sorbed by the Democrats and the
other was recruited into the new
Republican party. One was achieved
again in the 1905, in the fusion of
Democrats and Populists in the
farm belt.
II is the kind of opportunity
that naturally must appeal to Presl-
dent Roosevelt. whose leadership has
started the Democratic party on
progressive road. The outstanding
progressive Republicans are all
friends of the man in the Wnlte
House. He sees eye to eye with
them on most economic and social
problems.
Moreover. Mr.. Roosevelt is
partv builder. a political organizer.
Except in few states in the north
east. he holds the Democratic party
in the palm Of his hand.
Other States Affected
Should such a major political
shift be attempted seriously, the
movement would not be limited 10
California. Wisconsin and New Mex
leo. 1t undoubtedly would spread
into Nebraska. where Senator Norris,
who led the progressive Republican
bolt away from Hoover, has a large
and faithful following; into Mime
sofa. where the Farmer-Labor party
is dominant and the Democrats
rank in strength beneath the Re
nublieans: into Pennsylvania, where
q progressive Republican, Governor
Clifford Pinchot, is reported to be
Manning to wrest the Republican
senatorial nomination from con-
servative David A. Reed, and, 1all-
ing that. to seek Democratic support
as an independent; and even INTO
the Dakotas. where the dominant
progressive faction is much more IN
sympathy with Rooseveltism than
with the reactionary creed that
guides those who control the policies
of the national Republican organ
ization.
In all of those states the Demo-
cratic party for years has been a
weak minority party, sadly lacking
in the vitality that a fusion with
the progreSsives would bring.
Obstacles Are Faced
Definite practical obstacles, OF
course, stand in the way of such an
amalgamation. In most of the states
mentioned, fusion would mean that
the present Democratic leaders
would be stripped of party control.
Democratic precinct, county. and
state bosses would be certain to re-
sist any movement calculated to
weaken their own powers.
Moreover. men like johnson. Nor
ris. Ia Toilette and Pinchot are not
likely to relish the thought of burn
ing their Republican bridges behind
them. They long have distrusted
the Democratic party, and fear the
Roosevelt type of Democratic leader
ship may be but temporary.
The fusion would be easier to
achieve in New Mexico than in any
other state. There Senator Gut
ting's personal friends are in COM
plete control of the Democratic or
ganization and the senator resigned
as Republican national committee
man and walked out of the Repub-
lican state convention last summer
when control of the convention was
seized by the conservative element,
led by former Representative Albert
Gallatin Sims husband Of Ruth