Evening star., 1934-05-24
The Political Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

address to The progressive convention
at Fond Du Lac last week expressed
the belief that the Interests" are
not only seeking control Of the Demo-
cratic party, but have gained con-
siderable headway. Since these same
interests already dominate the Re
publican party, in the opinion Of
Senator La Toilette there is nothing
for the progressives to do but 60
ahead with q new, third party or
ganization. While claims are made
that the Democratic party under
Roosevelt has swung far to the left,
Senator La Toilette does not believe
It, He insisted in his address that
the progressive and forward-looking
legislation of the new deal" was
really the result of efforts Of the
progressives in Congress.
mo one can deny" said Senator
La Toilette, that the principal
achievements of the present admins
tration had their origin in years of
efforts by progressives of both parties
and have been accomplished since
March 4, 1888, by active cooperation
between the President and progressive
Senators and Representatives within
and without the Democratic party"
Senator La Follettes attack upon
the Democratic party-along with his
attack upon the Republican party
did not include an attack upon Presi-
dent Roosevelt. He called attention
to the fact that a strongly Demo-
cratic House recently passed a rev.
enue bill which would have allowed
the wealthy taxpayers to escape the
burdens of this depression had not
the progressives forced action upon
those best able to pay"
In this comment Senator La Toilette
had reference particularly to amend
ments offered by himself increasing
the tax levies on inheritances and
gifts and in the higher income tax
brackets. He gave credit to the
progressives, too. for the final dis
position made of the Muscle Shoals
power plant, which is now being de-
veloped along with the other re-
sources Of the Tennessee Valley by
the Government. He justified his
effort to establish a new Progressive
party, breaking away from the al
lance he effected with President
Roosevelt in the 1882 campaign, on
the ground that:
The same reactionary interests
which dominate the Republican party
are now reaching out for control of
the Democratic party through the
State and congressional elections of
1884. They will have their candi-
dates in the primaries, masquerading
as supporters of President Roosevelt
and hiding under the cloak of his
popularity. They have already crept
into the machinery Of the party in
many of the States. In Wisconsin, as
elsewhere, Democratic ofhceholders
have made common cause with utility
corporations and other interests
which progreSsives in both parties
have fought at Washington.
Democratic administrations in one
State after another have made barter
of public patronage to build political
machines, and checked the advance
under progressive leadership by plac-
ing emphasis upon party regularity
rather than upon genuine service TO
the people"
The aim OF the new party Is Tor
better deal in the matter of dis
tribution of the vast production of
which the American people are cap
able. Senator La Toilette declared. He
said:
1T is obvious that we can produce
all the wealth necessary to insure
the comfort of the American people.
We have failed, however, to solve the
problem of distribution. Until a po-
htical party attacks that problem with
courage and wisdom we cannot hope
to attain genuine recovery or a
stable future
The suggestion that Senator La
Toilette has gone into the establish
ment Of the new party merely to
further his own political interests and
in the belief that he would be
squeezed out of public life between
the Democratic and Republican politi-
cal millstoneS was denied by La
Toilette. Replying to this suggestion,
he said:
Many people believe my personal
political welfare would be served in
the coming election by the organiza-
ton of new party. I refuse to be
guided in this momentous decision
by its effect on the political fortune
of any candidate or individual. I am
not interested in political maneuver
that merely promotes my own or any
one else's candidacy. I shall only
be interested in a permanent organi-
zation which may spring from the
wish of the people for more effective
instrument to advance the progress
sive principles of Thomas Jefferson,
Abraham Lincoln and Robert M. La
Toilette"
The new deal is having its first
real baptism of fire, both in Congress
and out. The Darrow report, attack
ing the N. r. A.; the Reed victory in
the Republican senatorial primary
after a campaign in which Reed
attacked the new deal policies, have
both served to focus attention on the
new deal at the present time. In ad-
dition, there has been a vigorous
campaign against the new deal stock
exchange bill. now in conference.
If the administration leaders insist
upon bringing forward at the present
session the bill amending the agri-
cultural adjustment act so as to make
more certain the powers of the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture to control through
licenses every move of the professors
and handlers of agricultural products,
the flood of attack will be increased.
This measure is at present before the
Senate Committee on Agriculture. 1t
has been denounced by Senator Harry
Flood Byrd Of Virginia. ardent Demo-
crat and himself one of the greatest
apple farmers since the days of the
Garden of Eden. This attack on the
new deal is to be carried over into the
congressional primaries if many of the
Republicans have their way. How
ever, there are still members of the |
Republican party who are reluctant to |
concentrate in this campaign on the |
new deal. Take. for example, w.
Kingsland Macy, Republican State |
chairman of New York. Mr.. Macy. it !
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