Evening star., 1936-09-12
LIBERALS LAUNCH
ROOSEVELT DR|VE|
Urge All Progressives to
Back President-AssaiI
landon.
BY the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, September 12.-An or
ganization of self-styled liberals from
political, labor and agricultural fields
today launched a campaign for the
A parley of 1l6 conferees, meeting
as the National Progressive Confer
ence," concluded last night with an
agreement to back the Chief Execu-
tive, an appeal for all progressive
minded" voters to join the drive and
expressions Of opposition to the Re-
publican presidential candidacy Of
Gov. ALI M. Landon of Kansas.
A telegram was dispatched to Mr..
Roosevelt. notifying him of his in
dorsement and adding:
I'VE are now proceeding to organ
lie in every State in the Union for
the purpose of waging a vigorous cam
paign for your reelection and the
furtherance of the fight for equality
Of opportunity"
La Toilette Is Chairman.
Senator Robert NJ La Toilette, Wis
consin Progressive, was named chair
man of an Executive Committee of
IS to supervise the groups efforts and
send speakers to the hustings. 1t
was decided to establish units in every
State, each under the direction Of an
executive committee Of men and
women, and to raise campaign fund.
La Toilette said several thousand dol
lars was contributed to the purse at
the session.
La Toilette was authorized to name
other members of the executive body.
Senator George w. Norris, Nebraska
Independent Republican, was chosen
honorary president of the committee;
Senator Edward F. Costigan, Colorado
Democrat. honorary vice president;
Grace Abbott, Chicago woman's lead
er, honorary vice chairman, and
Frank P. Walsh. head OF the New
York Power Authority. acting treas
urer.
The official registration roster listed
representatives Of four political
parties Republican. Democratic,
Progressive and Farmer-Labor. There
were four United States Senators
La Toilette, Black of Alabama,
Schwellenbach of Washington and
Benson of Minnesota; two Governors,
Phillip La Toilette of Wisconsin and
Hjalmar Petersen of Minnesota; IL
congressman and 27 labor leaders.
Lewis and La Guardia Attend.
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia of New
York was an active participant. John
L. Lewis, chieftain of the Committee
for Industrial Organization and pres
ident Of the United Mine Workers OF
America. and Sidney Hillman. presi-
dent of the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers Of New York, were in labor's
delegation.
Seven participants joined in a post
conference broadcast
La Guardia urged a united front
against "all colors of reactionaries.
Lewis asserted the parley symbol
lied the determination of liberals
to preserve the Nation from the Re-
publican party, which places wealth
and power above human welfare"
Farmer-Laborite Benson declared
the chief business at hand" was
the defeat Of Gov. Landon.
M. w. Thatcher, Washington rep
fesentative of the National Grain Co.
operative, said President Roosevelt and
the recent Congress had provided
"every law the majority of agricul-
tural leaders has sought"
Thomas Neblett of New York. past
president of the Student Federation of
America; George M. Harrison, vice
president Of the American Federation
Of Labor and president of the Brother
hood Of Railway Clerks, and Peter
Witt Of Cleveland, introduced as a vet
eran liberal leader, also spoke.
La Toilette read the resolution in
eorsing Mr.. Roosevelt.
The Conference also adopted a dec
laration of principles, reafirming al
legiance to the American system of
government, setting forth economic
and social rights and stipulating the
conferees reserved the right to free po-
itical action outside the presidential
race.