Evening star., 1938-10-15


Second, the Progressive party of
Wisconsin-the parent organization of
the National Progressives of America
is battling hard for continuance of
governmental control in the Badger
State.
Third, 1t is the policy Of the La Fol-
lettes not to rush the upbuilding OF
the proposed new national party, but
to let it develop gradually and surely
as they believe it will.
In three States at least, outside of
Wisconsin,, the National Progressives
Of America is trying its hand at elect
ing candidates to Congress and to State
Office next month. They are Iowa and
Idaho, where states of candidates have
been put In the field, and California,
where the Commonwealth party has
affiliated itself with the National Pro-
gressives of America
Iowa Chances Seen Slim.
The Progressive party of Iowa has its
candidates for Governor, Lieutenant
Governor and on down the line of State
offices. Its candidate for United States
Senator is Raymond E. Hanke of Des
Moines. and for Representative in the
9Th Congressional district its nominee
is A. D. Pugh. No one expects the new
party to elect its candidates-or any
of them-in Iowa. But as they put it
at national headquarters here in Madi-
son-"the reactionaries are running
hot tho old ,,rlifipo1 ioc y,
IoWa-With Senator Gillette, con-
servatives, nominated by the Democrats
and former Senator Dickinson, an ultra
conservative, nominated by the Repub-
licans Under such circumstances
what were the liberals in Iowa to do?
The answer was the formation of the
Progressive party and its affiliation
with the National Progressives."
The national headquarters of the
National Progressives of America is
located here in an Office building just
across the street from the State
Capitol, where Gov Phil La Fol-
lette is ensconced. While the Gov
ernor is the real head of the party,
the Office of director has been turned
over to Ralph NJ Immell 1t is his
job to speed the organization ma
tionally.
Vague on Numbers.
To questions regarding the total
number of members-those who pay
their dollar and receive the party
emblenl-no definite answer is forth
coming. I'VE have members in every
State and practically every congress
sional district of the country" is the
| way it is put 'Mony members con-
tribute 5 or 10 dollars, or even as
high as $50, instead of the dollar
asked All this enables the organi-
zation to push ahead"
The National Progressives have
headquarters in Illinois, too. But it
was not deemed wise to put ticket ir
the field in that State this year. The
new party movement is today like
yeast, working and fermenting in diff
ferent parts of the country. Progress
sives in many States, who would have
been willing to affiliate with the ma
tional organization, held off because
VI COMMITMENTS " llCheIS dll6duS III
the field All this, it was predicted,
would be different a year or two
hence.
It seems rather probable. however,
that if the La Toilette Progressives in
Wisconsin should take trimming in
the elections next month. as they may,
the National Progressives will be
pushed further into the background
as national political force. On the
other hand, if the La Follettes come
through with flying colors, the ma
tional organization will be in a better
position than ever.
Broke With President.
This might be particularly true
should Gov. Elmer A. Benson, candi-
date of the Farmer-Labor party, fail
to be reelected in Minnesota. Gov
Benson declined to have anything to
do with the National Progressives of
America. The La Follettes-Phil, at
least-broke sharply with President
Roosevelt and his New Deal agricul-
tural policies when the National Pro-
gressives was set up. Gov. La Fol-
lette denounced the efforts of the
Roosevelt administration to bring
prosperity to the farmer and to the
EDUCATIONAL.