Evening star., 1911-08-23
Progressive Democrats Would
Capture National Convention.
PLANNING BIG CAMPAIGN
Charter Adopted for Federation of
Precinct Clubs.
OWEN OUTLINES PURPOSES
Platform Of 1908 Unsatisfactory.
Hearst's Politics Scored-Meet-
ing in Senate Office Building.

a charter for the organization Of the
Democratic Federation of Precinct
Clubs was adopted at a meeting of
prominent democrats today in the dem
ocratfc conference room in the Senate
on1ce building. The meeting also de-
cided to request the Supreme Court OF
the District OF Columbia to sanction
the charter OF the national organiza-
tion The national organization In turn
Will grant charters to precinct clubs
throughout the country.
The object OF the new organization is to
control the next democratic national con-
venuon. with a view to nominating a
progressive democrat for President and
forcing progressive platform.
Senator Owen of Oklahoma presided at
the meeting today, and among those who
attended were Senators Chamberlain OF
Oregon and Myers Of Montana: Repre-
sentatives RaKer of California, Buchan-
non of Illinois, SABBATH Of Illinois and
Diffenderfer Of Pennsylvania Cotter T.
Bride OF Washington was also present.
Outlined by Senator Owen.
In the plan for the organization out.
lined by Senator Owen. 1t is said tha,
the present regular democratic organiza.
ton has no duty to perform In the or
Of 1912 except to submit the matter to the
membership OF the party for action in
primary and convention: and as the men,
bers Of the democratic party are without
an organization for this great fight with
In the party, II Is proposed to form a
patriotic federation OF democratic precinct
clubs. with the object Of enabling the
progressive democrats to control the
party organization.
The plan is to organize at once into
democratic clubs the actively progressive
democrats in each of the 100000 voting
precincts throughout the country and to
feed these clubs into something like
25.OOO county federations and something
like 1000 city federations, forty-eight
state federationS and national fedora
ton.
Platform of 1908 Repudiated.
In the course OF the meeting today it
was explained that there was no inten-
ton Of forming a new political party. It
was also stated that the federation would
cooperate with existing democratic clubs
to bring about the best results.
The federation. 1t was decided. would
stand for the principles Of democracy
always. The question as to whether this
meant the democratic platform adopted
in 1908 was raised. But 1t was decided
that the support OF that platform in its
were certain things in II which were not
in accord with the cardinal principles Of
democracy
Hearst Politics Scored,
In discussing how far the new organi-
cation should go In cooperating with ex-
listing democratic clubs and organizations,
the situation in Illinois. and particularly
in Chicago. was brought up. 1t was de-
clared that the Sullivan organization
among the democrats in Chicago was
'trust-ridden." and that the new and pro-
gressive federation Of precinct clubs could
Ill afford to cooperate with 1t.
Also the Harrison Hearst organisation,
which opposed the Sullivan organization.
was criticised. The politics of William
Randolph Hearst was scored by some of
the democrats present. 1t was decided.
however, that the new federation should
state in it's bylaws that 1t would coop
crate with any democratic organization
now existing which was trle to the prin-
oples of democracy. It was clear from
the attitude of the democrats present
that Mr.. Hearst would not be supported
should he seek TO be a candidate for
President.
Government Of Federation.
After securing its charter and adopt
ing bylaws a national executive council
will be elected. This executive council
will manage the national federation. SUBJ
ject to a veto power in the national coun-
Gil, composed Of state presidents. and
subject to veto power In the individual
members. The national executive coun-
Gil is to elect the national officers and II
can recall them. and the members of the
national exee utive council can be recalled
by the state presidents in their capacity
as national councilmen. and the national
executive councilmen can be recalled by
the individual members.
In fact. the federation's system in
cludes the initiative, referendum and
recall.
The federation will endeavor to OBJ
tain the sentiment of the democrats OF
the country by means of a postal vote.
can thus be reached as to
issues and candidates in advance OF
primaries. and then the officers Of the
federation can take such steps as they
deem necessary to have the will OF the