Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-05-24
WISCONSIN HAS
THIRD PARTY
Progressive Groups in Bad
ger State Organize at
Fond du Lac.
Philip La Toilette, Former
Governor, is Chairman
of New Party.
BY HENRY G.. TEIGAN

BY HENRY u. TEIGAN
Wisconsin prOgressives have or
ganized a party of their own. This
action was taken last Saturday at
state convention at Fond du Lac.
According to press reports the dele
gates in attendance voted Overwhelm-
ingly for resolution divorcing them
selves forever from either of the two
old political parties.
FarmerLaborites of Minnesota nat
urally feel happy over this decision
on the part of their brethren in the
Badger state. 1t has been apparent
to the prOgressives of this state who
have been sailing under third party
colors for the past twelve years, that
unless other state groups with similar
political principles and program take
stand for Independent political ac-
ton, it will become increasingly diff
ficult for the Minnesota Farmer-La-
borites to maintain their party status.
Roosevelt Praised.
The convention at Fond du Lac was
the preliminary to another conven-
ton to be held later at which can
didates for state and congressional
offices will be named. The conven-
ton did. however, indicate its oppo-
sition to both the Republican and
Democratic parties in resolutions
adopted. President Roosevelt was
given Endorsement while the Demo-
cratic state administration at Madi-
son was condemned as being among
the most reactionary that state has
had in many years. The Schmede
man administration was charged with
being servile to public utilities and
other corporate interests. This
charge is, of course, based upon the
record that Governor A. G. Schmede-
man and the Democratic legislature
have made since January 1888.
Phil LaFOIIette Chairman.
Philip LaFollette, former governor,
was named state chairman of the new
party organization. 1t was decided
to call the new political set-up PRO
gressive" and not Farmer-Labor as
many of the delegates desired. This
decision seems natural in view of the
the Republican party has for years
designated itself Progressive" The
opposition group, or the regular Re-
publicans, has been termed stall
wart."
The step taken by Wisconsin pro-
no nj
cation of national third party in
1886. 1t is becoming apparent to
progreSSives everywhere that non
partisanship in politics gets little re-
suit for the producers of wealth. Only
through national political party will
it be possible for the farmers and
workers to achieve their liberation
from the bondage of big business.
Other States to Follow.
According to a recent report of
Howard Y. Williams, national organ
izer for the Farmer-Labor Political
Federation, it is a practical certainty
that Farmer-Labor or other third
party organizations will be set up in
Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, and
South Dakota, before the elections in
November.
The next most important state to
take the third party step is North
Dakota. There can be little doubt
that if the warning factions of the
Nonpartisan League will come out
under the banner of their own party
next fall they are certain to be vic
torious. Obviously much of the trou-
BILE within the League movement in
that state is due to the conflicting
affiliation that they have had to con-
tend with in the Republican party.
The same is, of course, true in Wis
consin and i'm other states where the
progressives have tried to make use
of the Republican party as their We
hicle for expression upon the pOlit-
ical field.
National Party Necessary.
The LaFollettes, Brookhart, Fra
zier, Nye, and Wheeler, are in prin-
ciple no nearer being Republicans
than are Henrik Shipstead and Floyd
B. Olson. And yet cooperation be-
tween the groups represented by these
men has been difficult due to their
differences in party affiliatiOn.
| Wisconsin progressives are to be
congratulated upon the stand they
have taken. They are rendering a
greater service to the great cause
which they represent than they prob
ably have yet realized.
| QUARRY CITY CLUB TO MEET
| The Farmer-Labor club of Sand
stone, will hold social and business