Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-04
CANCELLATION THE wArCHwoRD
Unity Of Action in Party is Greatly
Desired.
INSURGENTS SAID TO HOL DALoOE
R. CUMM1Es' ATTITUDE IS cool

Definite Plan.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S-(Special a,r,~-
gram)-Senator Cummins. the leader of
the progressives In the senate. waa lnvited
today TO the Whi,e House by Secretary
Moron. Senator Cummins. responding 10
the invitation, called at the White HOUSE
this afternoon, and he and tho president
held conference, the details OF which are
not disclosed. but the general import OF
which is nowhere questioned President
TAFT has made his first big move since
the elections, November s, to placate the
progressive forces.
The ball has been set trolling beyond
any question 20 bring about tho nomina-
ton and election OF President Taft in 1912
The first great step to be taken TO achieve
this result is TO smooth over the relations
between the president and the lnsureents
II has been forecasted for some time that
President Taft would undertake this win
ter radically different policy from the
one he pursued last winter, when he cut
off the progrcssives from patronage and
otherwise showed his displeasure toward
them
The summoning OF Senator Cummins 70
! the White House bears out what has been
| forecasted in striking and emphatic fash
Ion. Senator Cummins has not been a
| White House visitor until today since last
4 December, Just about a year has gone
/ by since he entered the White House
/ Senator Cummins today discussed the out.
| look as to the progressive course In con.
gress and various matters related 70 IT,
He had no comment to make on his visit
TO the White House. He made il plain
that the progressives in the senate were
going straight ahead on the lines which
they have followed In the past.
Cummins' visit Notable.
The presence OF a number Of regulars,
l who dropped In singly and in pairs, at.
] tracted little attention, but political Wash
ington began to sit up and take notice
when Senator Cummins appeared. He
was quickly followed by Senator william
Fl Borah OF Idaho. progressive
Later came the information that Senator
5ristow Of Kansas had been invited. but
had failed to put in an appearance. The
president did not attempt TO bring the sen
ate leaders together In one big conference.
There were never more than two IN hit
private office at the same time. He saw
Senators Cummins and Borsh together and
/ then had private word with each alone
In insurance circles II was said the pre-
Il
| given no definite promise OF success The
president was reported as ooncllatoTy and
Is said 70 have declared he was anxious 70
do all IN his power to bring about unity
OF action in the party
| A leading member OF the progressive wing
IN the senate was asked for an expression
as to the outlook for bringing the regulars
and insurgents together.
He shook his head. "such a thing is pos
sible," he declared. but II certainly is not
probable.' This was echoed by others.
Taft Making Special Effort.
! Al the WhAte House It was not admitted
that President Taft was making a special
effort to bring the insurgents or pro
gressives into line. Il was declared. with
a great deal Of emphasis, that Messrs
Cummins, Borah and Bristow hae been in,
vited to call only as part OF the presi-
dents plan to consult as many as possible
Of the senators and congressman concern
Ing recommendations in his message and
the legislative program for the coming ses.
sion. It was pointed out that the president
had consulted with Senators Lodge Root,
Nelson, Mccumber Of North Dakota, Cur
It's OF Kansas, SmOot OF Utah and repre-
sentatives from various sections OF the
country II also was said that several oe
| the house insurgents were to be invited
to conferences next week Senator Cum
mlns call was the first he has made IN
over year. He made no effort 70 conceal
the fact that his presence at the executive
offices was due entirely to the presidents
invitation.
AS he was departing with a COPY Of IN,
presidents message IN his hand, the sena,
tor remarked on the fact that II had been
a long time since he had visited the execu
tive offices.
\ But you probably will come oftener n
the fu-ureT was suggested.
4 wouldn't predict that too strongly
replied the progressive leader with
smile. Il am always glad to come how.
your conference with the president
was pleasant one?' he was asked.
This conference with you gentlemen
~ very pleasant the senator answered
ana said goodbye. declaring he could
not discuss his visit
Senator Borsh said he would have
further conference with the president
next week Like Senator Cdmmins he
had little 70 say
report Of the conference spread quickly
through the city. however, and n he.
came known that the president prae.
teaiiy had Offered the olive branch ID
progressiYes' with many OF whom he hae
not been on most cordial terms
The insurgents OF both houses probabl,
viii hold caucus before deciding or
any course OF action Their tone tonigbt
was hardly conciliatory.
'"fhe fact that this Is the short ses.
sion OF congress. with the time Tor lee.
isiative action limited, will not prevent
the bringing OF important legislative bro.
/ posals to the attention OF the country ana
| congress-" said Senator Cummins shortly
after leaving the White House
Progressive Program.
The senator gave the first outline OF
the program that is 70 be followed bv
the so-called progressives IN the session
that opens Monday. II Is planned bv
these members 20 urge the further con-
sideration Of tariff commission law