Arizona republican., 1912-12-18
Proposal for a Legislative Reference Bureau to Be
 Established at Washing ton to Further Enactment of Progressive Principles
ATTENDANCE LARGE AND REPRESENTATIVE
An Entire Absence of Petty Partisanship From Plans Proposed for Carrying on the Work of the Organiz- atiOn

At the conference in Chicago last week of progressive leaders. Dwight R. Heard of this city represented Ari- zona, and today made the following statement in reference to this con ference:
 When the progressive conference in Chicago was originally proposed 1t was thought that three or four hun dred progressive leaders should be- called together at Chicago to discuss plans for the more complete organlZ- ation of the progressives of the coun- try. and to arrange clear headed and systematic method of securing definite legislation for putting into effect the principles embodied in the progressive platform; so great. how ever, was the interest shown in this conference that over fifteen hundred men and women, representing every state in the union, attended. While the largest attendance was naturally from Illinois, many states sent delega- tions of fifteen or twenty members.
 The conference was thoroughly representative of the business, profes sional and farming interests of the country, and there was refreshing spirit of real democracy shown throughout the meeting. For instance, the expenses of the conference were paid by voluntary contributions which were dropped into a box on entering the hall At the family dinner which was held, at which eight hundred and fifty men and women sat down, hardly a dress suit was seen and splendid spirit of brotherhood and good fellowship prevailed. Cabinet ministers, United States senators. farmers, business men and workers for social welfare. meeting in the friendliest spirit of cooperation for the betterment of human welfare.
 Many notable women attended; Miss Jane AddaHsA- of Chicago, and Miss Keller of New York, being par ticularly efficient members of the conference and as members of the committee on organization joining in presenting concise definite plan for team play among the four million odd members of the progressive party in the nation.
 One of the most hopeful things about the conference was the com parative lack of hot air and the de- termination shown by those present to carry on the definite policies of the progressive party along practical rath- CT than visionary lines, and by a sys tenn of nation wide education to dem onstrate to the people of the nation the practical justice of those blanks in the progressive platform relating Ir-.-
 "On behalf of MT Fred Cleaveland, who was unable to be present, I at tended the meeting of the National Progressive committee, every state being represented. This committee considered favorably the plan of or ganization presented by the special committee, which it is planned to dis tribute to every member of the pro- gressive party in this country. One of the acts of the national committee was to establish immediately in Wash ington, a legislative reference bureau: this bureau will probGsofy be in charge of Prof. Mccarthy. who has had charge for years of a similar bureau conducted by the University of Wis consin and which has resulted in the passage of much excellent legislation in that state. The definite purpose of this bureau is to collect all the avail able information on the subject on which legislation is desired, including existing laws, this information to be gathered not only from the experts of Europe but from students of such subjects in this country, so that as result of the practical information gathered. definite bills may be pre- pared based on definite and careful study of the questions on which legis- lation is proposed. For instance, tax ation. the inheritance tax, the mini- mum wage, employers liability law, one days rest in seven in continuous occupations. and other vital subjects which materially affect the welfare of the people of this nation
 Tt is proposed to undertake this work in a broad. comprehensive fashion, getting both sides of the question in every case and having ready to present to the national con- gress and to the various state legis- Iatures, definite bills covering the definite principles advocated by the progressive party. This program will, I believe, appeal to all good citizens regardless of their previous political affiliations, for the reason that it will present a definite thoughtfully worked out and scientific method of law making.
 There was no indication of petty partisanship throughout the meetings of the progressive conference. and it was decided that in state and national legislation, members of the progres : sive party would at all times support such just and fair legislation as might be introduced which clearly embodies the principles for which the progress