Evening journal., 1911-01-23
PROCRESSIVES
FORM LEAGUE
Will Make Nationwide Fight
for the establishment Of
Popular Government
NINE SENATORS SIGN
THE DECLARATION
By United Press Leased Special Wire.

a possibly greater significance than
any other political announcement in
years, the formation or the National
Progressive Republican League, was
made public here today. Backed by
nine United States Senators, six Gov
ernors, thirteen members of the House
of Representatives, and many other
prominent progressives the new or
ganization binds itself to make a ma
tionwide fight "for the establishment
of popular government"
Representing the Progressive wing
of the Republican party, the league
was looked upon here today as the
opening wedge for the fight of the
Progressives to gain control of tho
party before the next Presidential
election. 1t represents the new
movement in politics, and while 1t is
an organization of Republicans, the
name of Theodore Roosevelt does not
appear in its announcement On its
face it appears to comprise an organ
ization in opposition to Taft
In the Senate the organization is
composed of the LaFollette-Cummins-
Beveridge faction, with Senator
Bourne Republican, Oregon named
as president of the league. On the
House side, the Noriss- Murdoch in
surgent element forms the presenta-
ton. Among the private citizens ap.
pearing in the original list are Will
liam Allen White of Kansas; Louis
ID. Brandeis of Massachusetts; Gift
ford Pinchot, former chief forester;
James r. Garfield of Ohio; Francis
J. Heney, of California;; Ray Stan.
nard Baker of Massachusetts and
many others.
Declaration of Principles.
The declaration OF principles-the
platform of the new Organization
is as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned, associate our
selves together as the National Pro-
gressive Republican League.
"The object of the league is the pro-
motion of popular government and
progressive legislation.
Popular government in America
has been thwarted, and progressive
legislation strangled by the special
interests which control caucuses.
delegates, conventions, and party or
ganization. and through control of the
machinery of government, dictate
nominations and platforms; elect ad-
ministrations, legislatures, represen-
tatives in Congress, and United
States Senators and control Cabinet
officials.
Under existing conditions legisla-
tion in the public interest has been
baftied and defeated. This is evi-
denced by the long struggle to Sc
cure laws, but partially effective, fol-
the control of railway rates and
schedules, the revision of the tariff
in the interest of the producer and
consumer, statutes dealing with trust
and combinations, based on sound eco
nomic principles as applied to modern
industrial and commercial conditions: ::
a wise, comprehensive and impartial
reconstruction OF banking and mone-
tary laws; the conservation of coal
oil. gas, timber, water powers. and
other natural resources, belonging tc
the people, and for the enactment of
all legislation solely for the common
good
Just In proportion as popular gov.
/ ernment has in certain States SUPER
ceded the delegated convention sys.
/ tenn and the people have assumed con.
| troll OF the machinery of government
has government become responsive tc
the popular will. and progressive leg
/ islation been secured
/ What Is Advocated.
"The progressive Republican Leagu,
j believes that popular government ii
| fundamental TO all other questions. Il,
/ this end II advocates.
81. The election of United Statel
Senator's by direct vote of the peo
pie
"2. Direct primaries for the nomi
nation of all elective officials.
"3. The direct election of delegates
to national conventions, with oppor
tunity for the voter to express hi
choice for President and Vice-Presi
dent.
a. Amendment to State Constitu
/ tions providing for the initiative, re
ferendum and recall.
IS. A thorough going corrupt prac
tices act"
A plan for extending the leagne'
activity throughout the nation is sc
forth in a paragraph on State or
ganization as follows:
"The league will cooperate wit
progressives in the several States. an
wherever acceptable will render as
sistance in promoting the organization
of State League
Whenever requested by and Stat
League or by progressive leaders Il
State Legislatures, the National Pro
} gressive Republican League will al
in the preparation Of appropriate bill
and resolutions, and will furnis
speakers and literature in support q
legislative actions upon the proposi
; tions enumerated in the five number
paragraphs Sst forth I'm the foregoin
declarations of principles"
At the first meeting Of the leagu
held last Saturday night tho follow
ing officers were elected:
President, Senator Jonathan Borne
Jr.. Oregon.
First vice-President. Representa-
: tive G. W. Norris, Nebraska.
Second President, Governo
! Chase Osborne. Michigan.
E Treasurer, Charles r. Crane, CHI
cago.
3 Executive Committee. Senator Nose
+ e. Clapp. Minnesota; Senator Josep
4 L. Bristow, Kansas; Representatiy
Q r. II. Hubbard, Iowa; Represents
= tive Irvine L. Lenroot, Wisconsin
I. Representative-elect William Ken
4 California; Clifford Pinchot. Pennsy
vania; George l.. Record, New Jerse.
: and the president, vice-presidents an
: treasurer members eX-officio.