The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-07-22


 Can Get Together La-
 bOr Holds Center of Stage
 in National Capital.
 Washington, July 22--Progressive leaders, dominated by Q delegation from the U. s. Senate, hope to get together one of these days and an- nounce q progressive league which will support Roosevelt for re-elec- ton this year.
 The meeting is somewhat over- due, however, and the best guess as to the reason for that has to do with the traditional inability of some progressive prina donnas to Iplay on Q team, complicated ct the moment by certain long range dreams of presidential candidacy in l04O.
 Senators Robert R. LaFOIIette of Wisconsin, George W. Norris of Nebraska, Hiram Johnson of Cali- f0rnIa, and Henrik Shlpstead of Minnesota are the leading spirits in the movement. They expect to be joined by Governor Floyd Ol- son and Senator Elmer Benson Os Minnesota and, eventually by Sen. ators Gerald Nye and Lynn Fra- zier of North Dakota, from whose state springs the third party can. didacy of Congressman Lemke.
 Frank P. Walsh of New York will be very active In the movement. Whether Mayor Fiorello Laduardia of New York will tie up with 1t isn't yet known.
 Wheeler Holding Back
 Aside from the reelection of Roosevelt, the chief matter In the minds of these men is the campaign of i040. Four years from now, they believe, they will be campaigning for . farmer-labor ticket or c rela. lively radical democratic candidate in case 1t is possible to nominate such Q candidate.
 Expecting Roosevelt to win again this year, they naturally are think ing secondarily about who they'll want to succeed him.
 Such contemplations are said to be afflicting Senator Burton K Wheeler of Montana, outstanding democratic progressive in the sen. ate.
 And the rumOr Is that Iie Is un. happy over the fact that LaFOl. Iette, former independent repub. llcan, who now carries the banner of his own Wisconsin Progressive Party, Is to head the progressive league.
 Whether or not WheeIcr'S attl- tude has held up the progressive gatherlng-aS some reports say It doesn't appear that the Mon- tana senator has yet made plans for any heavy campaign activity. Democratic leaders who are Nor- Trying over party prospects in Min nesota, the DakotaS, Montana, and Nebraska on the basis of recent polls believe Wheeler can do as much as anyone toward carrying those states.
 Labor Holds the Stage
 With congress, the president, most department heads and both party chairmen oil far away, organized labor has the field in Washington which iS still the nations best sounding board, even in tho hot old summer time. No one can say the big shot labor leaders aren't mak- Ing the most of 1t.
 For example, on . single day when there was no C0untor.Qt- traction except the naval spy case, Washington correspondents c0v- cred Q speech by John l.. Lewis at Q National Press Club luncheon, the explanation by Lab0r'S Non. Partisan League of it's. campaign plans, and announcement by Pres- ldent Bill Green of the A. Y. of l.. that the l2 unions of the Com mIttee for Industrall Organization would bc brought up for trial August 3.
 Lewis, wearing 6 polka dot tie and blue serge suit, drew Q large crowd. Tho capital rapidly has become "Lewis-consciou
 "I'd like to save America" said he, from the agonies and conyul- sionS that have happened in other countries where those who had everything tried to hold onto 1t all too long,"
 The applause was loud and long; about half the audience seemd to be Sympathizers.
 Expect to Deliver Vote
 A large and comfortable suite ct Willard Hotel houses Labor's Non- Partisan League, but 1t seemed neither large nor comfortable at the late-afternoon press conference, on account of the jam.
 The leagues three officials are George L. Barry, head of the press mems union; President Lewis of the United Mine Workers; and Presi- dent Sidney Hillma nof the Amal- gamated Clothing Workers. They were all there, wreathed in smiles, even though each wore heavy dark clothes.
 LabOrs vote had never been de- Iivered, said correspondent. How did they expect to be able to de- liver 1t for Roosevelt this year?
 Berry bOasted receipt of 100000 letters from local labor leaders, 95 per cent promising to help. Lewis bOasted that the LNL had had much to do with defeat of anti-New Deal Congressman George HudlestOn in Alabama.
 Green received reporters at the Hotel Hamilton directly across the street from the ofilce of Lewis