The Washington times., 1913-01-10
NORRIS AND OTHERS
IN CONGRESS FAVOR
Mr.. NUNSEYS PLAN
Congressman Slemp Ready
to Meet ProgreSsives in
Virginia Half Way.

In political, official. and Congressional
circles the Munsey suggestion for the
amalgamation of the Republican and
Progressive parties continued today to
be topic of serious consideration. One
member of the House. Congressman
jackson, Kansas Progressive, said he
had twice read the Munsey editorial,
and regarded il as a remarkably timely
and able suggestion.
Congressman c. Bascom Slemp, a
regular Republican and chairman oe
the Republican State committee, said
something tangible when he offered to
meet the Progressives IN his State half
way Mr. Slemp announced that he is
willing to call meeting of his execu-
tive Committee to meet a similar COM
mittee from the Progressive party IN
Virginia at any time the Prigressives
desire.
Congressmen Norris, Prouty, and Farr
were among other members of the
House who today commented faVoraDly
upon Mr.. Munsey's plan.
In the Senate and the House the
suggestion of Mr.. Munsey was widely
discussed. The far larger number APP
proved his suggestion. Some said the
time had not come; but all admitted II
must come long before the campaign OF
1916.
..Is the campaign of 1912 to be re-
peated?'' some of them were asked.
Impossible" most of them answered.
The rank and file of the Republican
party is all one with the Progresslves.
Their fundamental ideas are the same.
Why divide because of a name? Tradi-
tional principles are fife essentials of
patriotic men,
Slemp's Proposal Interesting.
George w. Norris, of Nebraska, one
Of the original insurgents and Senator
elect. said if such a convention a. NJ.
MuIsey had suggested was called he
believed agreement would be possible
on everything except the name of the
amaIgamated party. He is a Repub-
lican, who, unsolicited, won the Pro-
gressive Endorsement in his district.
Slemp's proposition as to immediate
and practical application of the Munsey
idea was intensely interesting to many
members of Congress
Il am ready as the chairman of the
executive committee of the Republican
State committee in Virginia" he said,
ito call meeting to arrange con-
ference with the executive committee
OF the State committee of the Progress
sire party, looking to a result such as
Mr.. Munsey desires.
Mr. Munsey's suggestion was the
best thing of the kind I have seen- We
all know something TO amalgamate the
two parties must be done. He has Of
fered a plan which seems practicable.
OF course, time will be required to
work 1t out, or any other plan.
81 can say if something of the kind
had not been done in my own Con-
gress district ] would not have been
returned for the next Congress. My
10. 94rf,a
A. Ayres, received about $4,000 votes.
I received about 1900. An inde-
pendent Progressive. who ran without
any authority of his organization. res
cefyed about 1000.
Peril of Division.
sRut President Taft received about
$500 and Colonel Roosevelt about
$500. Suppose there had been no
amalgamation and Progressive can
didate put up by his party had run
against me. I would have come no
nearer carrying the district than al
President Taft
"Since Virginia is a strong Demo-
crates State and may not give cleo
gressive Presidential candidates,
don't feel ought to go too far in in
1tiating this movement in line with
Mr.. Mqnsey's ideas.
Il nave not OFFICIALLY communicated
with Thomas l.. Moore, of Roanoke,
Progressive State chairman and chair
man OF the executive committee Of his
party, but I am wiling to consider the
subject with him, and II formal con-
sheraton between the two committees
can be brought about ! shall act
sSlemp called attention to the fact that
four Republicans from West Virginia
will sit in the new Congress. Three
CT them are of the Progressive type,
though not members of that party.
Without action like that recommended
by Mr.. Munsey this result would have
been impossible.
HiIles Is Non-Committal.
But the West virginians were prac-
deal men, who sought the victory OF
ideas rather than party names. They
also elected by their union a governor
and other State officers, including
legislature"
the President, and chairman Of the Re
publican national committee, declined
today to discuss Mr.. Munsey's state
ment.
SIT is a novel suggestion" said Mr..
Hilles, land interesting. But anything
I might say privately would not be of
moment and IL / were TO speak as
chairman of the national committee /
would feel it necessary that first con-
suit with other members OF the COM
Tnittee."
Despite numerous engagements that
have kept him extremely busy, Mr..
HilIes read the article carefully and.
before reading IL and when informed of
its contents in a general way was in
clined to say what he thought of the
suggestion. Later. however, he declined
10 make a statement for the reasons
given.
Enthusiastic Over Plan.
Fred S. Jackson, Congressman from
Kansas, one of the recognized Progress
sives Of the House, was enthusiastic
about Mr.. Munsey's plan.
81 have read Mr.. Munsey's article
twice" said he. 1T contained food for
thought / believe II an amaIgamatiOn
plan can be put before the voters of
the parties there will be results. ] do |
not expect the socalled leaders of the |
Republican party to take kindly 10 the |
plan They were willing to wreck the |
Republican party originally, and care |
little for the sentiment OF the rank and |
file.
.It will take time and much work to
get q plan of this kind working. Aid |
IL needed from newspapers and maya
FNas