III.

League for Progressive Political Action

In 1924 a liberal coalition, frustrated by conservative domination of both major parties, formed the League for Progressive Political Action, popularly called the Progressive Party. Nominating Senator La Follette for president and Montana Democratic Senator Burton K. Wheeler for vice president, the party, which also drew support from the Socialists, advocated government ownership of public utilities and labor reforms such as the right to collective bargaining. Although he was overwhelmingly defeated by the Republican candidate, the incumbent president Calvin Coolidge, La Follette polled more than 4.8 million votes, about 16.5 percent of the total ballots cast, and 13 electoral votes.