NEW AMERICAN PARTY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 15

NEW AMERICAN PARTY

PROGRESSIVE GROUP

FORMED

REBELLION AGAINST THE

NEW DEAL

VOTE-SPLITTING CAPACITY

FORESEEN

fmiITED PEE 93 ASSOCIATION- -COPTBIOHT.)

(Received April 29, 11.30 p.m.)

MADISON (Wisconsin), April 28,

A movement of first-rate importance, and having a special significance for Mr Roosevelt's own political fortunes, was launched to-night by the La Follette brothers, Senator Robert M. La Follette and the State Governor (Mr Philip F. La Follette) when they formed the National Progressive Party. The party is pledged to avoid equally old-fashioned Capitalism, Socialism, Fascism, «nd Communism, and to support so-called American Liberalism.

The party, which hopes to have candidates in all states in 1940, is seen to represent a movement of revolt against the New Deal, which the La Follettes supported. Governor Philip La Follette, in announcing the formation of the Progressive Party, declared that the President's good intentions were hamstrung by reactionaries and feudists within the Democratic Party itself, and the new party would be distinct from both Democrats and Republicans. He enunciated five principles which, with the exception of the first —namely, that the ownership and control of money and credit without qualification or reservation must be under public and not private control—are merely promises for the economic betterment of the people. The complete platform will be drafted later.

The Progressives apparently represent a mid-western movement, which is principally agrarian and labour in character, but they will attempt to reassure the safety of capital. This movement, which joined the Roosevelt forces, found itself frustrated on the one hand by strong Southern conservative groups, and on the other hand by the so-called radical fringe, both of which are constituent parts of the Democratic Party. It is not considered that the Progressives will be strong enough in 1940 to gain important positions, but they may seriously divide the strength of the Democrats and open the way to a Republican victory in the presidential contest.

ADMINISTRATION UNEASY

CONFESSION BY TREASURY SECRETARY

BUSINESS CONDITIONS "STILL WORSE"

(Received April 29, 11.45 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, April 28,

That the Administration is seriously disturbed over business conditions is seen in an informal statement by the Secretary of the Treasury (Mr Henry Morgenthau) to the press.

"Of course they are bad, and are still getting worse," he said. He confessed that he could not see any sign that the bottom had been reached, but he declined to comment further.