298:"We are in the midst of a tragic breakdown of industry, employment, and finance, with all the attendant human suffering. The Republican and Democratic parties cannot meet the emergency for they are the tools and servants of the forces and the men who have promoted the very policies which have in large measure brought about the crisis. Only a new party can restore the agencies of government to the service of the people.... This party will restore reality to democracy by attacking the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few and by preventing the insecurity, disproportionate risk, fear, and loss of vital
206:
270:, who resigned his position on the LIPA executive committee, declaring his belief that "we must build our political machinery for a genuine labor party down on the ground first" by energizing masses of workers rather than by "inviting such figures practically to form a new party. In resigning, Muste stated that "for the present it is of the utmost importance to avoid every appearance of seeking messiahs who are to bring down a third party out of the political heavens."
161:"The employers are not going to protect against these evils in any adequate way. They must help pay the cost and will never do it, speaking generally, until forced to do so by legislation. The leaders of the old parties will not work for the enactment of these laws because the Republican and Democratic parties are merely the political expressions of the great business organizations.... If we want social insurance, we must help to build up a new party."
255:, writing the progressive Midwesterner on December 23, 1930 and asking him to renounce both of the "old parties" and helping to give birth to a new political party based upon the principles of planning and control. This new organization would be instrumental "for the purpose of building happier lives, a more just society, and that peaceful world which was the dream of Him whose birthday we celebrate this Christmas Day," Dewey wrote.
31:
101:, a number of prominent liberals and socialists gathered in New York City to assess the American political situation. Those gathered agreed on the need for a new political party in America bringing together progressives around a common program. Additional meetings were subsequently held at which a platform was written and a name given to the new organization — the
128:" to correspond with the "general and far reaching industrial transformation" which the United States had experienced. It further called upon "forward-looking people in existing political parties and independent of existing parties" to join together in a "new party based on the principle of increasing social control" over industrial production and
273:
Despite Dewey's widely publicized failure, the LIPA still managed modest organizational growth, ending 1930 with approximately 4,500 dues-paying members and local branches in about 20 states. Average paid membership for the entire year was 3,756 for all of 1930, which grew to 6,062 in 1931, according
258:
Senator Norris was not inclined to go to this political extreme, however, writing Dewey back that "the people will not respond to a demand for a new party except in case of a great emergency, when there is practically a political revolution." This exchange between the scholar and the
Senator received
196:
The executive committee of the organization subsequently adopted a rule prohibiting the endorsement of candidates of either the
Republican or Democratic Parties whenever third party candidates representing the general principles of the League shared the ballot with them. Although this prohibition was
293:
sweeping
America and the ranks of the unemployed swelling with no end in sight, the LIPA invited a number of economists and progressive political activists to assist in formulating a platform for the group for the 1932 campaign. In January 1932 those participating gathered to draft a formal document
236:
Following the 1930 election, the League attempted to organize its supporters into functioning branches, with a goal of holding state conferences of progressive farmers, trade unionists, and political activists. In states with no functioning third parties already in the field, these state conferences
140:
General principles which the group espoused included government takeover of "strategic industries which are now being grossly mismanaged by private interests," including public utilities, coal mines, and the transportation system. LIPA was critical of the unequal distribution of wealth in the United
120:
which elucidated the principles of the new organization. This document proclaimed that "a political awakening is coming" which would cast aside the "Republican-Democratic alliance." The 1928 election had "revealed the fact" the
Democratic Party had "not one fundamental economic issue to distinguish
281:
By the beginning of 1932, there were a total of 11 state committees, 51 local branches, and 43 local representatives intent upon organizing additional branches of LIPA. The League made use of dinners and banquets to promote the organization, while
Executive Secretary Williams delivered dozens of
180:
Despite its repeated insistence that a new party would be necessary for the achievement of these ends, the LIPA officially declared that it "does not intend itself to become the new party but rather to act as a coordinating agency bringing together all those groups which ought to unite in the
306:
The 1932 platform advocated higher progressive income taxes and inheritance taxes, lower tariffs continuing the process towards eventual free trade, public ownership of utilities, coal, oil, and railroads, and reform of the banking industry to eliminate "extra-banking activities" as well as
197:
binding upon all officers and members of the governing national and executive committees of the league, local branches and their officers were merely "requested to conform to the same rules," while individual members were "free to follow their own judgment" on such matters.
350:
With its members engaged in other political activities during the kinetic years of the middle-1930s, the League for
Independent Political Action rapidly lost members. It continued to limp along as a shell of its former self until it was formally terminated in 1936.
294:
called "A Four Year
Presidential Plan, 1932-1936," which the League executive committee finalized and released to the press. This document again asserted the necessity for an independent political party to solve the nations ills, declaring:
285:
The LIPA was formally governed by annual conferences of its members. The May 1931 gathering determined to hold a joint conference of third party groups in an effort to wield unified action in the 1932 election campaign.
156:
The LIPA also declared itself in favor of "social insurance from the hazards of accident, ill health, unemployment, and old age." A new party was necessary for the achievement of these ends, the organization declared:
315:, and the use of unlawful searches and so-called "Third Degree" tactics by the police. Equal economic, political, and legal rights were demanded for black Americans as well as an end to legal laxity towards
169:, emphasizing that the Democratic Party had abandoned this historic principle and that farmers and consumers would see their tax burden reduced as the country steadily moved toward "the eventual goal of
213:
The LIPA made its first political endorsements in the election of 1930, recommending the entire ticket of the Farmer-Labor Party of
Minnesota, Socialist candidates in New York state (including
985:
233:), a pair of Socialist candidates for Congress from Wisconsin, and a pair of candidates from the Niagara Falls Labor Party and New Bedford, Massachusetts Labor Party, respectively.
970:
141:
States, declaring that the present system allowed "some to have so much more than they need and often without working for it" and declared the intention "to skim off through
60:, was seen as a coordinating agency for a new political party in the United States. No such party was forthcoming, however, and the group remained in existence as a small
980:
965:
975:
90:
396:
189:, so-called "progressive elements now working in the old parties," trade unionists, progressive farmers, professionals, liberal journalists, and
105:(LIPA). This name appears to have been borrowed wholesale from the official organization back of the 1924 independent Presidential campaign of
319:. "Drastic cuts, approximating 50 percent" were demanded for military expenditures on the army, navy, and air force while the abolition of
149:, and the increase in land values those surplus gains which are not necessary to induce effective service" or which were the byproduct of
932:
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53:
307:"investment trusts" and "trading activities." Provisions were included for the restoration of civil rights through the abolition of
73:
182:
98:
17:
339:
undermined the political impetus driving the League for
Independent Political Action. Early in 1933, the group's official
173:, as an aid to the soundest prosperity and international good-will, and for the purpose of reducing special privilege,
952:
W. E. B. Du Bois Papers, Special
Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
186:
110:
359:
209:
Executive Secretary Howard Y. Williams addresses the 3rd Convention of the LIPA in Cleveland, Ohio, July 1932.
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809:
779:
267:
61:
37:, seen in this 1902 photograph as a young man, was chairman of the League for Independent Political Action.
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addresses to trade unions, women's groups, farm organizations, community forums, and other organizations.
205:
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125:
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St. Paul, MN: League for Independent Political Action and the Farmer Labor Political Federation, n.d. .
308:
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704:
174:
142:
911:
Karel Denis Bicha, "Liberalism Frustrated: The League for Independent Political Action, 1928-1933."
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709:
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889:
New York: United Action Campaign Committee of the League for Independent Political Action, n.d. .
804:
774:
699:
64:
into the middle years of the 1930s, when it was gradually rendered obsolete by the move to the
244:. Dewey attempted to jumpstart the political power of the organization by bringing in sitting
48:
was an American political organization established in late November or early December 1928 in
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937:
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218:
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950:"League for Independent Political Action Executive Committee Agenda, October 4, 1929,"
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were envisioned as the catalyst for the formation of new state political parties.
30:
794:
549:"Muste Drops Out of Dewey League: Resigns from Executive of Third Party Group,"
263:
714:
399:
in Maurine Hoffman Beasley, Holly Cowan Shulman, and Henry R. Beasley (eds.),
241:
222:
170:
34:
606:"A Four Year Presidential Plan, 1932-1936," reprinted in full in Fine (ed.),
848:
The organization also published a number of political pamphlets, including:
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106:
57:
831:
The official organ of the League for Independent Political Action was the
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316:
252:
150:
65:
262:
The appeal by Dewey to Norris had the additional effect of alienating
166:
204:
121:
them from Republicans," according to this LIPA founding document.
29:
562:"League for Independent Political Action," in Nathan Fine (ed.),
533:"League for Independent Political Action," in Nathan Fine (ed.),
515:"League for Independent Political Action," in Nathan Fine (ed.),
382:"League for Independent Political Action," in Nathan Fine (ed.),
240:
The Chairman of the LIPA from its earliest days was philosopher
837:
This was established in June 1930 and merged into the magazine
358:
is available on microfilm with the master negative held by the
347:
magazine. It was formally terminated in October of that year.
834:
News Bulletin of the League for Independent Political Action.
841:
in April 1933 and terminated in October of that same year. (
124:
The LIPA founding declaration announced the need for a new "
18:
News Bulletin of the League for Independent Political Action
335:
and the inauguration of the liberal social policies of the
181:
formation of such a party." Included in its sites were the
584:"League for Independent Political Action," in Fine (ed.),
489:"League for Independent Political Action," in Fine (ed.),
441:"League for Independent Political Action," in Fine (ed.),
425:"League for Independent Political Action," in Fine (ed.),
895:
New York: League for Independent Political Action, n.d. .
883:
New York: League for Independent Political Action, 1932.
876:
New York: League for Independent Political Action, 1930.
869:
New York: League for Independent Political Action, 1930.
862:
New York: League for Independent Political Action, 1930.
855:
New York: League for Independent Political Action, 1929.
920:
The League for Independent Political Action, 1929-1933.
386:
New York: Rand School of Social Science, 1930; pg. 126.
323:
through a constitutional amendment was insisted upon.
922:
Dissertation. Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1969.
116:
The group soon published an initial leaflet entitled
620:
27:
Defunct American progressive political organization
113:, the "League for Progressive Political Action."
893:Why the League for Independent Political Action.
354:A partial run of the monthly organ of LIPA, the
274:to a report by the Executive Secretary of LIPA,
986:Progressive organizations in the United States
580:
578:
576:
574:
572:
564:The American Labor Year Book, 1932: Volume 13.
535:The American Labor Year Book, 1931: Volume 12.
517:The American Labor Year Book, 1931: Volume 12.
165:The organization also opined in favor of low
8:
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403:Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000; p. 419.
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566:New York: Rand School Press, 1932; pg. 100.
537:New York: Rand School Press, 1931; pg. 158.
519:New York: Rand School Press, 1931; pg. 157.
76:. The organization was terminated in 1936.
52:. The organization, which brought together
971:1936 disestablishments in New York (state)
649:Attended by 200 delegates from 12 states.
384:American Labor Year Book, 1930: Volume 11.
177:, and exploitation by favored interests."
887:Audacity! More Audacity! Always Audacity!
553:, vol. 2, no. 5 (January 3, 1931), pg. 2.
881:Democracy Joins the Unemployed: Address.
545:
543:
681:Attended by delegates from 153 cities.
370:
103:League for Independent Political Action
43:League for Independent Political Action
845:continued publication through 1943.)
7:
981:Organizations disestablished in 1936
966:1928 establishments in New York City
259:wide coverage in the popular press.
608:The American Labor Year Book, 1932,
586:The American Labor Year Book, 1932,
401:The Eleanor Roosevelt Encyclopedia.
933:Progressivism in the United States
867:Unemployment: A Practical Program.
853:Wanted: A New Political Alignment.
471:Wanted: A New Political Alignment,
455:Wanted: A New Political Alignment,
25:
976:Organizations established in 1928
665:Attended by about 500 delegates.
118:Wanted: A New Political Alignment
915:vol. 47 (1966), pp. 19–28.
491:American Labor Year Book, 1930,
475:American Labor Year Book, 1930,
459:American Labor Year Book, 1930,
443:American Labor Year Book, 1930,
427:American Labor Year Book, 1930,
183:Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota
99:President of the United States
1:
860:Why a Political Realignment.
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672:
669:
661:
656:
653:
645:
640:
637:
302:which are the lot of many."
1002:
187:Socialist Party of America
111:Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
93:which saw the election of
91:1928 Presidential election
872:Oswald Garrison Villard,
629:
626:
623:
89:Within a month after the
918:Robert Elliott Kessler,
670:3rd National Conference
654:2nd National Conference
638:1st National Conference
360:Cleveland Public Library
810:Oswald Garrison Villard
289:Late in 1931, with the
268:Brookwood Labor College
62:membership organization
865:Henry Raymond Mussey,
473:quoted in Fine (ed.),
457:quoted in Fine (ed.),
327:Dissolution and legacy
304:
210:
163:
80:Organizational history
38:
333:Franklin D. Roosevelt
321:military conscription
296:
208:
159:
145:on unearned incomes,
126:political realignment
70:Franklin D. Roosevelt
33:
750:Hannah Clothier Hull
397:"Progressive Party,"
175:political corruption
109:progressive Senator
874:The Tariff Scandal.
770:Robert Morss Lovett
735:Helen Hamlin Fincke
191:religious activists
820:Howard Y. Williams
805:Joseph Schlossberg
775:Archibald MacLeish
700:Harry Elmer Barnes
395:Mary A. Hamilton,
276:Howard Y. Williams
211:
39:
858:Paul H. Douglas,
688:Prominent members
685:
684:
551:Revolutionary Age
143:progressive taxes
16:(Redirected from
993:
938:Social democracy
800:Reinhold Niebuhr
755:Harry W. Laidler
725:W. E. B. Du Bois
678:July 9-10, 1932
662:May 22–23, 1931
646:May 17–18, 1930
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343:was merged into
341:Monthly Bulletin
331:The election of
309:syndicalism laws
291:Great Depression
249:George W. Norris
219:Frank Crosswaith
74:Democratic Party
21:
1001:
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956:
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906:Further reading
829:
824:
815:Charney Vladeck
785:James H. Maurer
780:William Mahoney
720:Paul H. Douglas
705:Paul Brissenden
690:
674:Cleveland, Ohio
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944:External links
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95:Herbert Hoover
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913:Mid-America,
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879:John Dewey,
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843:Common Sense
842:
839:Common Sense
838:
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827:Publications
765:John A. Lapp
695:Devere Allen
610:pp. 102-112.
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246:U.S. Senator
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227:Jacob Panken
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795:A. J. Muste
740:Nathan Fine
624:Convention
617:Conventions
201:Development
147:inheritance
960:Categories
715:John Dewey
266:, head of
264:A.J. Muste
242:John Dewey
223:Samuel Orr
171:free trade
58:socialists
35:John Dewey
627:Location
366:Footnotes
107:Wisconsin
927:See also
899:Fascism.
588:pg. 101.
493:pg. 129.
477:pg. 129.
461:pg. 128.
445:pg. 128.
429:pg. 127.
337:New Deal
317:lynching
253:Nebraska
151:monopoly
72:and the
66:New Deal
54:liberals
167:tariffs
136:Program
130:product
633:Notes
311:, the
229:, and
185:, the
46:(LIPA)
630:Date
56:and
41:The
251:of
97:as
68:by
962::
593:^
571:^
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362:.
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153:.
20:)
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