Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-10
LAF0LLETTE HITS
OTH0LDPART|ES
Democracy Held Menaced
by Reactionaries With
Crisis Unabated.

Crisis Unabated.
Following is the text of an address
outlining the aims of the La Toilette
third party movement, delivered last
night by Senator La Toilette, Progress
sive, of Wisconsin in the National
Radio Forum, sponsored by The
Evening Star and broadcast over a
NATIONWIDE hook-up of the National
Broadcasting Co.:
The time has come when citizens
who believe in democracy must unite
for political action to solve the prob
lens of modern industrialism. 1t is
clear that unless we meet the chal-
lenge Of our generation, only disaster
and despair can be the lot Of people
living in the richest Nation.
We have the productive capacity to
provide every family ready and willing
to work with a standard of living
higher than the world has ever known.
We have the natural resources, we
have the skilled man power, we have
the industrial facilities, we have the
land to provide all workers with hand
or brain decent and full life. In
short, we have practically solved the
problem with which mankind has
been wrestling since the dawn of
civilization-the problem of produc-
ton.
Instead of utilizing these enormous
facilities for producing wealth, we
are confronted with the greatest para
dox in history - insecurity, misery,
privation and want in the midst of
potential plenty. The complexity of
modern civilization has made it i'm
possible for the individual acting alone
to solve his problem. A farmer may
be the owner of rich land, he may
have the best methods. he may work
with his family from dawn till dark
but he cannot succeed if the consum-
ers' standard Of living is low. The
wage Garner may be skilled, he may
be industrious but he cannot provide
for himself and his family unless his
Job is steady and his wages are ade-
quate. An employer may have a
modern plant, he may utilize the most
efficient technique but he cannot keep
his factory going when there are no
orders for his goods.
Opportunity Once Greater.
In the past our expanding frontier
provided a measure of equality of
economic opportunity. Our increasing
population provided an ever expanding
market for our products. The policies
OF government made the land and
other natural resources available for
exploitation and use. The individual
was thus afforded a chance to use his
ability and his initiative to advance
In life. In past periods of depression
he could go West and start life anew
on free land.
Now he has no such opportunity
because today the physical frontier is
closed. Our population has ceased to
expand at its former pace. Science
and invention have increased produc-
tive capacity and released vast guam
titles OF effective energy. The unit
size OF industrial operation has grown
tremendously, large concentration of
population has taken place in our
cities.
In short, our whole economic system
has become very complex and inter-
dependent. Our problems cannot be
solved by individuals acting independ-
emily and alone. We cannot carry
on In this modern age without organ
ization. Only by joining together in
united political action can we succeed
IN our common purpose to restore that
equality of opportunity upon which
the fate OF democracy ultimately rests.
The past decades were an era Of
unlicensed profit and speculation
ruthless exploitation of the farmer,
the wage Garner and the consuming
public, with a concentration of wealth
unparalleled in the history of the
world. This period was called Re-
publican prosperity. 1t eliminated in
a collapse of our economic life. The
disaster of 1929 and the acute dis
tress and suffering of the people that
followed were made possible through
the betrayal of the peoples trust by
men in both parties men controlled
through party organizations dominated
by privileged interests. This catas-
trophe could have been avoided. 1t
could not have occurred if the people
OF this country had been provided
with party machinery responsive to
their needs.
Democratic Party Is Divided.
In 1892 the voters turned to Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. Millions of indie
pendent citizens supported him and
voted the Democratic party ticket. In
1884 the party's majority in both
houses Of Congress was increased. In
1896 he swept the Nation, carrying
all but two States, with the result that
the Democratic party has the largest
majority in the House and Senate ever
known in this country. Congress has
been in session almost continuously
since the 18th day of November and
yet 1t Is almost barren of any achieve
ment. The truth is that the Demo-
cratic party is split wide open. The
bitter factional fight has paralyzed 1t.
Since last September the country
has experienced the most rapid de-
cline in economic activity in all our
history. Nearly 100000 people have
lost their jobs in the last seven
months. The income Of the farmers
is steadily declining. Experts have
predicted that their total income will
be 10 per cent less this year than last,
despite the drastic farm bill which is
about the only important measure
Congress has passed. The specter Of
fear, insecurity, want and privation Is
abroad in the land once more.
When we assess the responsibility
for this tragic situation we must not
overlook the share which govern
ment itself must shoulder. In the fall
Of 1886 the administration yielded to
the demands of the vocal business
community, backed up by the powerful
reactionary element in the Democratic
party. 1t drastically curtailed the pro-
gram which had pulled us up out of
the depths of 1879 BEFORE the in.