The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-04
An Intimate Picture of PHIL LAFOLLETTE--Po Politician Extraordinary
Wisconsin Governor Is Center of Big
 Doings at Madison
By WILLIS THORNTON NEA Service Stan Correspondent

l NEA CCEVACO 0toh NVAHc0PvnuChs
 Madison, Wis, June 1.-The first thing you learn here in looking into the LaFoilette Progressive third party" is that there isn't any party.
 Let Governor Phil" sitting in his dim. quiet office beneath the dome of the state capitol, explain:
 "The National Progressives of America is an unincorporated asso- citation attempting to build party state by state" he says. "It is not yet party. Only when we have lfunctioning organization in 10 or 20 states can we call real party con- vention, effect real national party Organization, and adopt a concrete platform"
 That definition of his movement today Is Governor Phil's answer to two criticisms that have been hurled at the Progressive movement: first, that its procedure thus far has been distinctly undemocratic, and second, that its program is too indefinite. ITS DIRECTION
 | THAT COUN1S
 His answers boil down to this, that you can't have democratic move ment until you have great masses of people attached to it. The early stages of any political movement must revolve around a single leader. And the program is advisedly indef- mite, as a harder target at which opponents can aim.
 Further Phil LaFollette trusts to the compass rather than the blue print. If the direction is true, the exact road to the destination can be developed as one goes along, he feels, and further, that is what any party in power does anyway.
 Quiet-spoken, smiling not with 8 camera smile" but as one who smiles inside himself in quiet enjoy ment of some hidden humor, Gov- ern LaFollette certainly gives no outward sign of being the potential Fascist he has been painted.
 When you put the question squarely to him, he does not bristle or shout with an indignation that doth protest too much" He simply mods a quiet, confident nod, and says Look at the record"
 He means the record that shows his upbringing as the carefully taught son of one of the most de- voted lovers of democracy America has yet produced; his record in state politics with three terms as governor. NEW PARTY IS
 NO MERE GESTURE
 One other thing Governor LaFol- lette disposes of with quiet set of the jaw and flash of teeth that are the only physical indication of the forceful leadership which has put him in his present unique position. This is it: he is deadly serious about forming new party. It is not merely a gesture to exert pressure from the left to keep President Roosevelt from going too conserva- tive. Phil LaFollette has definitely put his hand to the blow, and he idoes not propose to look back.
 We are in a position where any really basic attack on today's prob lens splits either party" he says. Any effort Roosevelt may have made to convert the Democratic party into a Progressive group has failed. So far as basic principles go, the real relationship to today's is- sues, the present parties might as well be parties in Australia. Basic ally they have no reality.
 SEEKS SUPPORT ...
 OF THE MASSES
 But the mass of the people are smart. You'll notice that since 1892