Evening star., 1938-05-08

Partisan Leaguers have been politically
powerful for a number of years.
Admittedly there is tendency on the
part of some of the progressive-m minded
political leaders to soft pedal the new ma
tional party idea-for this coming CAM
paign. For reasons Of their own, growing
out Of local conditions, they say that it is
not 'expedient" for them to join the La
Toilette party this year. They can, they
say, almost certainly elect this or that can
didate to Office under present party align
ments. They don't want to rock the boat.
That kind of patter does not appeal to
the La Follettes. They believe that the
time has arrived to give the voters chance
to divide nationally along progressive lines
They believe that the same story of political
expediency would arise to block their move
ment If they waited another year. So they
are going right ahead with their plans.
To the La Toilette way of thinking, there
is wide cleavage in both the Republican
and Democratic parties. No Democrat or
Republican is willing to say today II am
a Democrat" or II am Republican" and
let it 60 at that. A Democrat must say
Il am a New Deal Democrat" or IT am
anti-New Deal Democrat" The Republic
can is particular to announce that he is
not aligned with the old guard, or vice.
versa. Under these conditions, they argue.
the time has arrived for political shake
up. There must be something wrong with
the party set-up, they insist. when Senator
Norris can run in Nebraska as an Inde-
pendent and defeat the regular Democratic
nominee at the same time Roosevelt is
sweeping the State for President. And
when Senator Borah. catalogued as Re-
publican, can carry Idaho with a greater
lead than the State is carried by President
Roosevelt-on the same day.
Foes of Curtailed Production.
In tentative platform, put forth at the
recent Madison meeting. the La Follettes
have broken absolutely with the Roosevelt
New Deal on basic policies. The La Fol-
lettes are against curtailment of production
as means of increasing wealth. They do
not believe in it and say so. That goes for
farm and factory. They are against cod
ding the American citizen-although they
insist he shall have full opportunity to
make living. They say, however, that
once such an opportunity has been pre-
sented, the citizen must sink or swim on
his own.
The La Toilette Progressive platform has
been criticized on the ground that it is not
specific, does not outline concrete remedies
for Americas ills. The La Folettes, how
ever, do not think that the new party
should be handed definite program and
told to take it or leave it. They hold that
only through conference can such pro-
gram be written. Therefore, they have un-
dertaken to draw platform only Of bold
and broad principles.
1t is an old story that most progressives
in politics in this country want to be major
generals. Personal ambitions have pre-
vented a united front. So the La Fol-
lettes, in their third party drive. must over
come reluctance on the part of the leaders
of the new American Labor party in New
York. They must appease the Farmer
Labor leaders in Minnesota. They must
make an appeal to John L. Lewis and his
c. I. O., including Iabor's Non-Partisan
League, and to the Partisan Leaguers
in the Dakotas.
Face Coalition Talk.
The La Toilette progressives face also
the bid which Senator Vandenberg of
Michigan and several conservative Demo-
Gratis are making for coalition" to de-
feat the Roosevelt New Deal party. AS q
matter of fact the New Dealers themselves
have gone long way toward establishing
q new political party-taking over the old
Democratic organization and ironing out
the kinks A Democrat of the old school
would have been amazed if 10 years ago he
had been given preview Of the New Deal
Democratic party Of Notwithstanding for q
tremendously centralized Federal Govern
ment with States rights practically thrown
into the discard.
Two years ago, an effort was made to
build up q third candidate for President,
Representative William Lemke Of North
Dakota. He had the backing Of Father
Coughlin and his National Union for Social
Justice, of the remnants Of Huey Longs
Share-the Wealth party headed by Gerald
L. K. Smith, and of Dr. Townsend, head of
the Townsend old-age pensioners. It. did
not get to first base, and really cut prac-
tically no figure in the general election.
despite the fact that these various organi-
zations claimed to influence millions Of
voters and to have millions of members.
While independent political movements
have been numerous since the party system
was developed in this country. only seven
Of their candidates for President IN more
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