The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-01-26
NATIONAL REFORM
Insurgents Organize a
Great League.
BOURNE Is AT THE HEAD
Will Fight For Direct Senatorial
Elections, Recall and Similar
Ideas Regardless of Po-
litieal Ties.
BOURNE IS AT THE HEAD.

washington, Jan. OiBdhiAoNiO"
Of the National Progressive Republican
league by progressive Republican sen
ators. representatives. governors and
others-an organization which will
seek to fight for the establishment of
popular government"-was announcer
in this city.
Plans OF the new league. which have
been under way since the assembling
Of congress, were completed at a meet
ing in Washington last Saturday night.
A declaration of principles was signed
and constitution adopted.
The following officers were elected:
President. Senator Jonathan Bourne,
Jr.. Oregon; first vice president, Rep
resentative George b, Norris, Nebras-
la: second vice president, Governor
Chase Osborn. Michigan; treasurer.
Charles r. Crane. Chicago; executive
cor aittee, Senator Moses +. Clapp,
Minnesota Senator Joseph l.. Bris-
tow, Kansas; Representative Il. II.
Hubbard. Iowa; Representative Irvine
L. Ienroot, Wisconsin; Representa-
tive-elect William Kent. California;
Clifford Pinchot, Pennsylvania; George
L. Record. New Jersey. and the presi-
dent, vice presidents and treasurer
members ex-ofiicio.
The declaration OF principles fol-
lows:
1--WE. the undersigned, associate our
selves together as the National Pro
gressiye Republican league.
The object Of the league is the pre-
motion of popular government and pro-
gressive legislation.
Peoples viii FIouted.
Popular government in America has
been thwarted, and progressive legis-
lation strangled by the special inter
ests which control caucuses. delegates.
conventions and party organizations
and. through control of the machinery
of government, dictate nominations
ana platforms, elect administrations,
legislatures. representatives in con-
eress and United States senators and
cootrol cabinet officers.
Under existing conditions legisla-
ton in the public interest has been
baffled and defeated. This is evidenced
by the long struggle to secure laws but
partially effective. for the control OF
railway rates and services, the reyis-
ion of the tariff in the interest OF the
producer and consumer. statutes deal
fhg with trusts and combinations bas-
ed on sound economic principles as ap-
piled to modern industrial and COM
mercial conditions. a wise. comprehen-
siye and impartial reconstruction OF
the banking and monetary laws the
conservation of coal, oil, gas, timber,
water powers and other natural ie-
sources 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 control
Of the machinery Of government. ha
government become responsive to the
popular will and progressive legisIa'
ton been secured.
What the League Advocates.
"The Progressive Republican league
believes that popular government is
fundamental TO all other questions. To
this end 1t advocates: The election OF
United States senators by direct vote
of the people; direct primaries for the
nomination of all elective officials; the
direct election OF delegates TO national
conventions with opportunity for the
voter 10 express his choice for p esi /
dent and vice president; amendment
to state constitutions providing for the
Initiative, referendum and recall; a /
thorough-going corrupt practice act
THE league will cooperate with |
progressives IN the several states, and, /
wherever acceptable, will rende- rs |
sistance in promoting the organization /
Of state leagues.
whenever requested by any Pro /
gressive State league or by progress /
sive leaders in state legislatures, the
National Progressive Republican /
league will aid in the preparation OF
appropriate bills and resolutions. and |
will furnish speakers and literature in
support of legislative action upon the
propositions enumerated in the fore
going declaration Of principles"
Leaders In the Movement.
Among the signers are
United States senators - Jonathan \
Bourne, Jr. Oregon; Albert J. Beyef /
idge, Indiana; Joseph l.. Bristow, Kan
sas; Norris Brown. Nebraska; Albert /
B. Cummins, Iowa; Moses E. ClapD /
Minnesota; Joseph NJ. Dixon, Mon
tana: A. J. Gronna. North Dakota.
Robert NJ. LaFol'ette, Wisconsin.
Governors-Chester II Aldrich, Ne
braska; Joseph NJ Carey. Wyoming; /
Hiram johnson, California; Francis z /
McGovern, Wisconsin,; Charles e Os |
born. Michigan; W. r. Stubs. Kansas. /
Congressmen-Henry Allen Cooper,
Wisconsin: William ]. Carey. Wiscon- |
sin; c. r. Davis, Minnesota; E. H. /
Hubbard, Iowa; G. N. Haugen, Iowa;
Irvine l.. Lenroot. Wisconsin, G. A.
Linbergh. Minnesota; Victor Murdoch. |
Kansas; e. II. Madison, Kansas; Il.
A. Morse, Wisconsin; John M. Nelson.
wisconsin; George w. Norris, Nebras-