The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-01-17

AfD hhc iuioWsfh Oh iueOuDFs hoOBe
welt in the last campaign. and VIII
gave up all further thought OF call
Ing themselves Republicans.
II the Progressive-R Republican, shall
refuse 70 caucus with the Republicans
and shall caucus by themselves. Their.
really viii be three parties In thu
next house Of Representatives. In ad
dition TO the fourth majority party, ths
Democracy
Four Party Groups.
II 10 recognized here as probable
that an attempt may be made In the
Progreasive.Republican caucus to ge,
the members to agree TO act with the
Prosressiyss Ia most matters al
against the Republicans. An at
tempt TO secure such action II is be.
lievad by many members or congress
win be resented and repudiated by
some OF the Progressiye.R Republicans
possibly majority of them. who, be-
cause Of certain happenings in the
last six or eight months, dislike the
Progressiyes more than they do the
old line regular Republicans II Ia
not believed by non-partisan observ-
! ers here that the Wisconsin Progress
iye-Repnblicans, for instance, win con.
sent TO anything like an affiiiation
With the Progressives. The reason
for this Is AZ once apparent to any
one who has followed the develop
ments OF the last campaign and OF the
events which led up to the virtual
elimination OF Mr.. La Toilette as fac
tor In the campaign for the presiden-
tai nomination.
The one sole surviving Progressive
Republican In the Kansas delegation
IN congress. Victor Murdoch, 1t is said,
is likely to hold aloof from the Repub-
lican caucus. and II is expected that
Mr.. Murdoch will have In company
with him several members OF the
house from the middle west. IL this
shall turn out to be true forecast
Of the coming situation, there will be
four party groups In the next house
Of representatives. Democrats, Repub.
leans. Progressive Republicans and
Progressives, each group caucusing by
Itself, and each outlining its own
government policies, There has been
nothing parallel to 1t within the mem
CRY OF present members OF congress,
Capital Society Anxious.
III this holiday season with con
gress adjourned. Washington peo-
pie, and particularly those who
are known as society folk. are dis
cussing good deal, and some OF
them worrying a bit. over President.
elect Wilson's intimation that he Ia
likely to do away with good many
of the at present recognized White
House social affairs The wonder is
In the capital whether Mr.. Wilson. as
has been limited. intends to drop from
the entertainment calendar the four
great semi-publlc receptions which
have been given every winter in
Washington for years,
In what he is reported to have said
Mr.. Wilson set Il forth that he thought
the handshaking receptions which
were In no sense public business az
fairs we'll might be dispensed with
Washington says that the four semi
public receptions are in great
measure public business affairs. and.
anyway. society here would miss
these functions sorely
No one In the capital believes that
the presidentelect will care, or per.
haps dare IL the proper word to use
in this case. TO cut from the list OF
White House receptions the one which
Ia held every New Years day and to
which the public without regard to
race, color. creed or politics is in,
ylted
One Really Democratic Affair,
II has been said by foreign visitors
TO America that the New Years re-
ception at the White House is the
only wholly democratic affair known
TO the White House series of enter.
talnments, receptions and dinners. 1t
ls true that anybody who will can at
tend the reception at the executive
mansion on New Years day, and so,
therefore. Ia a broad sense this is the
most democratic reception which the
president gives Washington society.
however In arguing for the continu-
anee OF the other four receptions. de-
clares that while they are not free
for all" they are about as democratic
as they can be made without 50 over
erowding the White House that the
holding OF the receptions would bs
virtually impossible,
The diplomatic reception. which Is
the first OF the series OF four reeep-
tons Of the winter. is recognized in.
stitution and the foreigners hold Il as
4 fitting recognition OF their presence
In the capital and of the hospitality
which Il Is necessary in a diplomatic
way for the head of one government
70 show to all those from other gov.
ernments who hold letters OF
credit"
The three receptions which follow
the diplomatic affair end which with
il make up the qualtette OF the win,