PROGRESSIVES OF WISCONSIN RALLY FOR '44 VICTORY
Progressives Of Wisconsin Rally For '44 Victory THE determination of the Progressive Party of Wisconsin to return to power this Fall, received tremendous impetus this weekend when an overflow...
...Progressives Of Wisconsin Rally For '44 Victory THE determination of the Progressive Party of Wisconsin to return to power this Fall, received tremendous impetus this weekend when an overflow throng of nearly 800 persons convened in Milwaukee for the statewide convention which marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Party...
...We shall continue to give our whole-hearted support to vigorous prosecution of the war to an early and successful conclusion...
...Militancy of purpose and unity of action characterized the two-day convention which was the largest statewide gathering of any kind in the decade that Progressives have functioned as an independent political instrument...
...The bright New Deal with its tarnished record of failure to carry through many of its promises of a constructive program is a casualty of war as the forces of monopoly and reaction strengthen their power within the Administration...
...Progressives will cooperate in supporting sincere efforts made by the United States representatives at the peace table to secure a just and lasting peace...
...By putting our own house in order we can prove to people everywhere that men can have both freedom and security...
...La Follette said: "The high hopes which the Democratic Party held in 1933 for many sincere Democrats and liberals have been dimmed...
...Delegates listened in a silence marked by tense expectancy when State Sen...
...We reaffirm our unalterable opposition to territorial aggrandizement for the purposes of imperialism, discrimination against races or peoples, monopoly or cartel control of trade, insupportable indemnities, the oppression of peoples or the selfish exploitation of their natural resources, and the prolonged military government of conquered or occupied nations...
...George Hampel, Sr., chairman of the convention committee on principles, read the new, 6,000-word declaration of Party principles, and then let go with a roar of applause when the reading was completed...
...Home front planks called for a fight to the finish against monopoly, a sound program of useful public works, more extensive support of producer and consumer cooperatives and public corporations modeled on the TVA, public ownership of utilities, a government-owned and.operated central bank, health insurance, liberalization of social security laws, and prohibitions against letting government-built war plants fall into the hands of monopolies...
...Commenting on the two old political parties, Sen...
...If the Republican Party comes into power at the next election and fails to meet the problems produced by this war as it did those of the last war, Progressives will have cause to be thankful they have maintained their independence and refused to be lured into that political party as well...
...At present the indications are that the Republican party is still dominated by Eastern Big Business and financial interests just as it was in Hoover's Administration...
...Sharing speaking honors with Sen...
...The statement of principles adopted by the convention contained a far-ranging program of reform and reconstruction for the home front and a realistic foreign policy for international collaboration...
...Alexander Wiley, Republican...
...Our primary task is to make democracy and equality of opportunity living realities here at home...
...A great wave of applause swept through the packed hall when Glenn D. Roberts, chairman of the Progressive State Central Committee, struck the keynote by saying: "This convention marks the end of the retreat of liberalism in this state...
...Progressives believe that there can be no compromise with the forces of Nazism and Fascism," the declaration said...
...Sen...
...The declaration on foreign policy closed with a reaffirmation by Progressives of "their profound conviction that in the last analysis our greatest contribution to world peace will be determined by what America does for Americans...
...and promote cooperation on such specific issues as relief, health, trade, communications, and airways...
...We urge the Government to use whatever bargaining power we still possess as a result of the astronomical amounts of manpower, money, materials, and natural resources we are contributing to the war effort to secure now from our Allies firm commitments...
...From this day on Progres-sivisnt goes on the offensive, an offensive which will not be stopped until the government of this state is once more under the direction of a Progressive-minded administration...
...Harry Sauthoff, Wisconsin Progressive, who is now a candidate for the U. S. Senate seat held by Sen...
...This is our manifest destiny for as President Roosevelt has said, "Unless there is security here at home, there can be no lasting peace in the world...
...La Follette and Glenn Roberts was Rep...
...encourage the democratic forces in all countries to join with us in the attainment of political democracy and economic security...
...The Progressives can be thankful that they have maintained their independence and have not allowed some political pied piper to lead them into the Democratic Party in Wisconsin...
...With only a single dissenting vote, the convention adopted a Progressive foreign policy calling for "genuine cooperation among nations for the attainment of a just and lasting peace"—the goal to be reached by a realistic attack on the causes of war...
...Robert M. La Follette, Jr., who came from Washington to deliver one of the principal addresses, received a standing ovation at the end of a speech in which he lashed out at reactionary domination of both old political parties and called on Progressives to stand firm in their own ranks...
...Sauthoff struck vigorously at war profiteering, recalled that Progressives took the lead in advocating preparedness against attack, urged international cooperation to guard the peace, and asserted that "I would rather be for America first, than for America last...
...These commitments must lay the groundwork for a peace devoid of harsh indemnities and vengeance and prepare the way for a peace settlement which will strike at the causes of war...
Vol. 8 • May 1944 • No. 20
