THIRD-PARTY IDEOLOGIES 357 



the statement that La Follette had made to the forty newspapermen before 

 he sailed for Europe in the summer of I923- 37 



Meanwhile, the Conference for Progressive Political Action had its own 

 ideas, which competed with what the Minnesota Farmer-Labor party had 

 in mind. It also called for a convention of workers, farmers, and progres- 

 sives to meet in Cleveland on July 4 to set in motion the machinery for 

 the presidental campaign that year. 38 The expected elimination of William 

 G. McAdoo as an acceptable Democratic candidate seemed to have paved 

 the way for an independent party. McAdoo was very acceptable to the 

 railroad men because of his handling of the railroads during the war 

 years. The actions of the C.P.P.A. could hardly be overlooked, because 

 it had taken a prominent role in the elections of 1922 that had sent Ship- 

 stead, Brookhart, and Wheeler to the Senate and also re-elected La Fol- 

 lette. 39 Here was a rival force with great influence which the Minnesota 

 Farmer-Laborites could hardly ignore. 



Despite this, representatives from forty political organizations in Min- 

 nesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Illinois, and New 

 York attended a conference in St. Paul in March to proceed with third- 

 party plans. Originally, May 30 had been set as the date for the nominat- 

 ing convention, but many felt that it would be advisable to postpone the 

 convention until after the Republicans had met and nominated their can- 

 didates. At this meeting it was stated that a delegation had visited La 

 Follette and found that he had no objection to his being proposed as the 

 leader of this third-party ticket. The idea that La Follette was too old and 

 physically unfit to assume the responsibilities of President was cast aside. 

 La Follette was their man. 40 



Meanwhile, La Follette men were reported to be greatly disturbed over 

 the number of third parties that were springing up over the country. 

 Especially did they show concern over the Minnesota call that had just 

 been set for June 17. Reports had it that the majority of the members be- 

 longing to the committee sponsoring this call were members of the Work- 

 ers' party, a recognized communist organization. 



37. New Yorf( Times, March 3, 1924; Wisconsin News (Milwaukee), March 7, 

 1924. 



38. Christian Science Monitor, February 12, 1924. 



39. Wisconsin News, March 7, 1924; Minneapolis Tribune, March 17, 1924. 



40. Ibid., March n, 17, 1924. 



