Evening star., 1935-12-30
ROOSEVELT DRIVE
BY NORRIS URGED
Drafting Senator Proposed
to Lead Independents in
Middle West.
By the Associated Press.


Drafting of Senator Norris, Repuh-
lican of Nebraska to head an inde-
pendent Roosevelt for President cam
paign Committee in six Midwestern
States was proposed today by
Nebraska Progressive.
The author Of the idea, George
W. Kline. chairmar- of the Nebraska
Progressive League, said he believed
the reelection of Mr. Roosevelt could
not be left to the regular Democratic
organization.
The regular organization, he said,
ain some places is not completely
In sympathy with the President"
Kline's proposed Norris committee
would function in Nebraska, Kansas,
Iowa, Minnesota and North and South
Dakota. Each would have a State
chairman. -,
Other Developments.
This was one of several develop
mentS with a possible bearing on
the 1886 campaign. Others included:
l. New York Republican Progress
sives" drove ahead with their plans
to win the States delegation to the
Republican National Convention for
Senate Borah of Idaho
2. Representative Pierce, Democrat,
of Oregon announced he would try to
have straw ballots barred from the
mails. He expressed the belief Repub-
Icans are manipulating "a current
national poll which shows a trend
away from President Roosevelt"
8. j. Kenneth Bradley, director OF
the Young Republican division of the
Republican National Committee, said
a recent QUESTIONABLE indicated
younger members Of the party con-
sidered the farm problem and the
cost of government to be the two lead
ing issues.
Coughlin Asks Confidence Vote.
4. The Detroit radio priest, Father
Charles E. Coughlin, called on his
followers for a million votes OF con-
f1dence in his drive for nationaliza-
ton Of money. If the votes are re-
ceived within three weeks, he said,
we would start weekly newspaper
to tell the country imprinted truths"
5. An opinion that the potato-con-
troll act passed at the last session OF
Congress is "fiagrantly unconstitu-
tional" was made public by the Ma
tional Lawyers Committee Of the
American Liberty League.
The veteran Senator Norris, an
avowed supporter of the Democratic
Chief Executive, was not available
Immediately for his reaction to the
Kline proposal.
Kline planned series OF confer
ences during the day. He said he
would discuss his idea with several
progressive Republicans who, he be-
Jieved would be interested in estao-
lishment of the independent organiza-
ton to back Mr.. Roosevelt and pro-
gressive candidates for the House and
Senate.
Leaders Accused of LOafing.
Regarding his contention that some
Democratic leaders lacked sympathy
with the President, Kline said:
All the Dig DemOcFaIlc party ledu-
ers in our State, for instance, are not
on the job. They are not functioning.
They have said things the people don't
like and We can't depend on them to
carry the State for Roosevelt
Among those he mentioned by name
were Arthur F. Mullen, former Demo-
cratic national committeeman: Keith
Neville, MuIlen's successor on the Ma
tional Committee, and James Quigley,
State Democratic chairman.
Kline said he discussed his proposal
with Senator Burke, Democrat of Ne
braska, and added that Burke lis
heartily IN favor of progressive COM
mittee" Burke has urged reelection
OF the independent Republican Norris.