The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-23

of Theodore Roosevelt does not APP
pear in It's announcement. ON its
face ii appears TO comprise an or
ganized opposition to President Taft.
In the Senate the organization is
composed of the La Toilette Cum
Minis Beveridge faction. with Sena-
Bourne (Republican1. OF Oregon,
named as president OF the league. On
the House side the Norris Murdoch
insurgent element forms the represen-
tatfon. Among the private citizens
appearing In the original list are Will
liam Allen White, OF Kansas: Louis
ID. Brand els, of Massachusetts,: Gift
ford Pinchot, former chief forester;
James r. Garfield. of Ohio: Francis
J. Henry, OF California; Ray Stan
nard Baker. of Massachusetts, and
many others.
Declaration of Principles.
The declaration of principles--fhe
Platform of the new organization
is as follows.
We. the undersigned, associate
ourselves together. as the national
progressive Republican league.
The object of the league Is tne
promotion of popular government and
progressive legislation.
Popular government; In America
has been thwarted and public legisia-
ton strangled by the special interests
which control caucuses, delegates,
conventions and party organizations.
and through control of the machin-
cry of government dictate nominal
tons and platforms; elect administers
tions, legislators. representatives IN
Congress and United States senators
and control cabinet officers.
ssI-
ton in the public interests has been
baffsed and defeated. This Is evf-
denced by the long struggle to secure
laws. but partially effective. for the
control OF railway rates and services.
the revision OF the tariff in the IN
terest of the producer. and consumer,
statutes dealing with trust and combi-
nations. based on sound economic
principles as applied 10 modern In
dustrial and commercial conditions:
a wise, comprehensive and impartial
reconstruction OF banking and none
tary laws; the conservation OF coal.
oil. gas, timber. water powers and
other. natural resources. belonging to
the people. and for the enactment OF
all legislation solely for the common
good.
Just in proportion as popular gov-
eminent has in certain States super
seeded the delegate convention system
and the people have assumed con-
troll of the machinery of government,
has government become responsive to
islation oeen secured.
Reforms 1t Advocates.
A plan for extending the leagues
activity throughout the nation is set
forth In a paragraph on State organi-
cation as follows:
The league will cooperate with
progressives In the several States and
wherever acceptable will render as
sistance IN promoting the orgauiza-
ton OF State leagues.
Whenever requested by any State
league or by progressive leaders In
State legislatures. the national pro-
gressiye Republican league will aid
In the preparation of appropriate bills
and resolutions and will furnish speak
ers and literature In support of feg-
tslative actions upon the propositions
enumerated In the five numbered
paragraphs set forth in the forego-
ing declarations OF principles"
Officers Are Named.
At the first meeting of the league
held Saturday night. the following
officers were elected.
President, Senator Jonathan
Bourne. Jr.. Oregon.
First vice-president. Representative
g. w. Norris. Nebraska.
Second vfce-president, Governor
Chase Osborne. Michigan.
Treasurer. Charles r.. Crane, Chi,
cago.
| Executive COMMITTEES. Senator Moses
E. Clapp. Minnesota: Senator Joseph
l.. Bristow. Kansas: Representative n,
II. Hubbard. Iowa: Representative
| Irvine L. Lenroot. Wisconsins Repre-
sentative-elect william Kent Calikor~
mia; Clifford Pinchot. Pennayivania:
George L. Record. New Jorsey. ana
the president. vice-presidents ana
| treasurer. members ex-oficto.
President Bourne. Of the leaguo,
said to-day: gS
| THE declaration OF principles "
| the National Republican League
speaks for itself. White IT. nemboes
ship Is confined to those who boljoSG
! that the Republican party, Represents
ed by progressive Republlcana. ceIo1r
the most encouragement for IN 6~@
tablishment OF these prineipl64 tA0io
| IL no purpose to make = : pol1e1
organization In the sense ~ prom
l (COnstnlaod an GnVenfk J601 ~ al zs'