New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-08
URGES REPUBLICAN
CONVENTION IN 1918
Nicholas Murray Butler Is for
Party Reorganization
Within the Year.
TALKS TO YOUNG MEMBERS
Governors Eberhart and Hadley
Send Assurances That West
Will Join with East for
United Party.

Will Join with East for
United Party.
Or. Nicholas Murray Butler OF
Columbia University told 100 members
of the Young Republican Club of New
York. at the Hotel Astor last night.
that thorough reorganization of the
Republican party is needed. He sug
convention be called to which all who
Wish TO remain Republicans shall come
fm a revision Of the party rules, so as
to make the Republican organization
representative.
DR.. Butler said the Republican party
as q minority organization never had
the opportunity to face a situation
fraught with such significance AS it
nowfaces. Broken and distraught from
within, II faced, he declared, demand
for thorough reorganization. 1t is, ne
said, a party split and scattered rather
than a defeated party, and II was split,
he declared, on questions of methods
and organization rather than on prin-
ciplc.
The plan for making IL more repre-
sentative. DR.. Butler said. could be car
ried out along the lines that were AL
most contaminated at the convention
OF 1908. To this convention he would
invite all citizens, without reference t.
their choice for Presidential candi-
date in 1912. That reorganization at
tempted in 1905 would have been exc
cuted. he declared, had 1t not been for
the change of the vote of the California
delegation on the last roll call. III de-
tail IL was aimed principally To affect
change i'm the methods of Southern
representation and the method of cleo
ton Of national committeeman.
Militant Spirit Prevails.
It was tho second annual dinner OF
NIF lOlnb Ik'BODAlNiil Nihps hib ~
spite OF the inability of Governor Her
bert s. Hadley OF Missouri and Gov
ernor Adolph .. Eberhar Of Minnesota
to come up from Washington and
speak, the affair was marked by the
spirit OF militant Republicanism. Both
governors sent letters of regret, in
which they promised cooperation with
the Young Republicans of New York
City In their programme of reconstruc-
ton.
II thoroughly believe" wrote Gov
ernor Eberhart. that the rank and file
Of the Republican party is still Repub-
lican and that II voted not only for
President Taft as a Republican but for
Colonel Roosevelt as Republican also.
Whatever OF principle and party man
a cement has been wrong can be made
right. Nothing but selfish leadership
can prevent this. and IL behooves every
loyal Republican to work in the inter
ests OF united action.
THE Republicans Of Minnesota will
Join with the Republicans Of New York
in restoring the oldtime strength and
influence for good which has marked
the Republican party since its organ
ization."
Governor Hadley said the record OF
the party along progressive and con-
stitutional lines marked it as an organ
ization that should appeal particularly
to the young members
Il am satisfied he wrote, that
there Is In the future as great a work
for our party 20 accomplish as there
has been In the past. | hope in the
future to meet with you and to CO.
operate with you in the important work
you are carrying on"
Dr. Butler said he was profoundly
impressed by the fact that the Repub-
lican party was still in the majority, as
could easily be figured from an anal
ysis Of the electoral vote. He insisted
that a reactionary party could never
exist In the United States for the rea-
son that its people are by nature con-
progressive. He challenged
any ma nto show him where the plat
forms of the Chicago and Saratoga con-
yentions did not treat present day
problems in spirit OF llberality and
appreciation.
Not in Minority Long.
The Republican party is going to
he the minority party In name only for
a little season." he said: ut is new
experience In this nation for Repub-
licans. II gives us such an opportunity
as rarely comes to us. In this state as
a result Of our own sins and those, per-
haps. of others daughter we are to
he turned over to the tender mercies OF
Tammany Hall. What an opportunity
that will afford a minority party! What
could Republicans ask better than TO
watch the Democrats at Albany for the
next two years. I submit 1t will make
watching. Take the reports
of the committees on cities, on Judici-
ary and-yes-the committee on codes
II Is our duty to see to II that We keep
before the people the true character OF
our ancient opponents in Tammany
Hall"
mr. Butler spoke briefly Of the great