The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-03-09
PROGRESS|VES NEW
Republican League Comprises
Prominent Men In Party frOm
West and Northwest,
With Scattering
from East.
BY JAMES A. EDeERToN.


is born. 1t Is new force i
American politics, the effect
of which no one can as ye
foresee. The general belief is that
will result either in capturing the Re
publican party or in the formation o
a new party, although its founders de
ny that 1t is in any sense a new part!
now. Its chief purpose is the advance
ment of progressive legislation. Among
it's charter members are nine United
States senators, six governors, thirteer
congressman and others who are ia
nous throughout the land.
The officers of the new organization
are as follows:
President, Senator Jonathan Bourne, Jr.
Oregon; first vice president, Representa-
tive George w. Norris Nebraska; second
vice president. Governor Chase S. Osborn
Michigan; treasurer, Charles r. Crane
Chicago; executive committee, Senator
Moses E. Clapp, Minnesota; Senator Jo-
seph L. Bristow, Kansas; Representative
L. II. Hubbard, Iowa; Representative IT.
vine l.. Lenroot, Wisconsin,; Representa-
tive Elect william Kent, California; Gift
ford Pinchot, Pennsylvania; George L.
Record New Jersey, and the president,
vice president and treasurer, members ex
officio.
Among other well known members
are:
Senators Beveridge Brown, Cummins,
Dixon, Gronna and La Toilette. Repre-
sentatives Cooper, Carey. Morse and Mel
son of Wisconsin. Davis and Lindberg of
Minnesota Haugan of Iowa and Murdoch
and Madison of Kansas; Governors AL
drich of Nebraska, Carey of Wyoming,
Johnson of California. McGovern Of Wis
consin and Stubs of Kansas, Senator
Elect Poindexter of Washington, Repre-
sentatives Elect La Toilette of Washing
ton and Jackson of Kansas, Ray Stan
nard Baker Louis D. Brandeis, James r.
Garfield, Hugh 7. Halbert. Francis ].
Heney and William Allen White.
Platform Is Progressive.
Rather strong array Of names that.
At last there seems to be something
doing in this land of the free, some
thing portentous to bosses, special in
terests, grafters, bribers and reaction
aries.
The platform of the league bears out
this idea. 1t is as follows:
We. the undersigned, associate ourselves
together as the National Progressive Re
publican league.
The object of the league is the promo
ton of popular government and progress
sive legislation.
Popular government II America has
been thwartCd AID progressive legislation
strangled by the special interests which
control caucUseT. deiegG tes. c0-rentiona
and party organizations and through con
troll of the 7 &C linery of government die
+a4 fno o. Il ,1a4 ole
ministrations, legislatures, representatives
in congress and United States senators
and control cabinet officers.
Under existing conditions legislation in
the public interest has been baffied and
defeated. This is evidenced by the long
struggle to secure laws, but partially eff
fective for the control of railway rates
and services, the revision of the tariff in
the interest of the producer and consum-
er. statutes dealing with trusts and COM
binations based on sound economic prin-
ciples as applied to modern industrial and
commercial conditions; a wise. compre-
hensive and impartial reconstruction OF
the banking and monetary laws; the con-
servation of coal oil, gas, timber, water
powers and other natural resources be-
longing to the people. and for the enact
ment OF all legislation solely for the COM
mon good.
Just in proportion as popular govern
delegate convention system and the peo- |
pie have assumed control of the machin- |
cry of government has government be- |
come responsive to the popular will and /
progressive legislation been secured.
The Progressive Republican league be-
leves that popular government is funda-
mental to all other questions. To this end /
it 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 ma
tional conventions, with opportunity for
the voter to express his choice for presi-
dent and vice president.
Amendments to state constitutions pro-
viding for the initiative. referendum and
recall
A thoroughgoing corrupt practices act.
The league will cooperate with progress
sives in the several states and wherever
acceptable will render assistance in pro-
noting the organization OF state leagues.
Whenever requested by any progressive
state league or by progressive leaders in
state legislatures the National Progress
sive Republican league will aid in the
of appropriate bills and reso-
utions and will furnish speakers and lit
erature in support of legislative action
upon the proposition enumerated in the
i've paragraphs set forth in the foregoing
of principles.
Many Campaigns Planned.
Senator Bourne says that the league
will organize an aggressive campaign,
form state leagues, push progressive
legislation in Democratic as well as
legislatures and enlarge its
throughout the land.
headquarters win be taken in Wash
ngton. and Senator Bourne will de-
rote all his available time to the work.
New members will be elected by ma
ority of the present membership. The
eague is not mere sporadic affair,
nut is intended to be permanent. Sew