The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-03
Movement of Progressive
Democrats to Control the
National Convention, Has
Been lnaugurated.
OWEN A LEADER IN
THE NEW MOVEMENT
Democratic Insurgency Be-
came Manifest in the Fight
Waged Against Naming
Martin Senate Leader.
BY SIDNEY ESPEY.

BY SIDNEY ESPEY.
WASHINGTON. Sept 2.-That the
Democratic party, as well as the Re-
publican party will be split in it's next
national convention by the progress
sive idea, is already potent The
movement of the progressives to con-
troll the convention has been formally
organized.
For five or six years the Republi-
can party has been divided. A grow
ing element of the party has subscrib-
ed to the progressives' views of such
leaders as Senators Lafollette and
Cummins, former President Roose-
velt., former secretary James r. Gar
field and Clifford Pinchot. So far has
this Republican split gone that the ap-
parent Republican majority in the last
house turned out to be no majority at
all, and the apparent Republican ma
jority in the present senate turned out
the same way.
All this is well known to the coun-
try, but the fact that the same radical
movement had begun its work of di-
viding the Democratic party in con.
gress and throughout the country has
not been widely known, as the move
ment had taken no definite form un-
til within the past few days.
Took Definite Form.
When Senators Owen of Oklahoma,
Kern Of Indiana. and Chamberlain Of
Oregon got together, the other day
in this city they made the announce
ment that the progressive movement
among Democrats had taken definite
form, and that party leaders in almost
every state in the Union were eager
to join the Democratic Federation of
Precinct clubs.
This is the title of the insurgent
Democratic force. The plan of cam
paign is indicated by the title. 1t
means that chain of precinct clubs
will be formed all over the country,
and that through these the leaders ex-
pect to control the delegates who will
in turn control the next National con-
vention.
While the organization of the pre-
cinct clubs is the first outward sign of
the Democratic progressive move
ment, the fact that Democratic In
surgency has smouldered for weeks.
during the extra session of congress,
has been known to many leaders.
This Insurgency made itself mani.
fest when opposition developed to
the election of Senator Martin. of Vir.
ginia, as Democratic leader. A num-
ber of Southern and Western Demo.
Gratis in the Senate bitterly opposed
the movement to honor the Virginian
and as result division of the Sen
ate minority became at once evident,
Senator Martin was elected, but he
won by the narrowest kind of a mar
gin.
To the Surface Again.
Later still this same Insurgency
came to the surface when a number
of Democratic senators assailed the
action of their associates in breaking
with the Republican Insurgents. The
opinion was strong among the Demo
cratic progressives that the coalition
was honor bound" to remain intact
until after the tariff fight, and they
openly offered sympathy to the Re
publican progressives on account OF
the ludicrous position in which they
found themselves at the close of the
session.
Now the precinct club organization
has been inaugurated. This is resign
ed to spread from state to state. from
county to county and from precinct tc
precinct. 1t has been started year
or more in advance of the election and
nearly a year in advance of the con
vention which nominates the nexl
Democratic candidate.
The members of this league are ad
vocates of such ideas as the referen
dunn and the recall, lower tariff and
complete control of the trusts. They
will put out a platform which will be
their declaration of principles for the
next national convention.
| These same members are afraid ol
the nomination of such a candidate
as Judson Harmon. Of Ohio. or Cover
nor Baldwin of Connecticut. They
are afraid of the influence of Wal
street and the corporations. and are
preparing to fight this influence in
the next convention as long as there
| is any fight left in them.
| When questioned members of this
league admit that they would not op
pose the nomination of Governor
Woodrow Wilson. Of New Jersey. OF
former Governor Folk Of Missouri. OF
Speaker Champ clark. or of Governor
Foss of Massachusetts, Any one o1
this list of possibilities would be &C
Continued On Page Eight