The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-12

leaders here today former Governor
HadIey of Missouri stated that "a
coalition of the Republican party and
Progressive party is not only desired
but is being sought Mr.. HadIey ex-
panied that this end was being sought
by the attempt to reform the Repub-
lican party so that conscientious Pro-
gressives who left the party last fall
could rejoin.
Chicago, May 12.-First steps to-
ward "reuniting the Republican party
were taken at a conference of Republi-
can United States senators and other
leaders of the party held here today.
The conference decided to call upon
the Republican national committee at
it's meeting scheduled for May "a at
Washington to issue a call for a ma
tional convention this year. To re-
organize the party "along progressive
lines Senator Albert B. Cummins OF
Iowa, Senator William E. Borah OF
Idaho and former Governor Herbert
S. Hadley, together with the other
leaders at the conference at which
eleven states were represented. agreed
that the proposed convention shall
change the basis of representation in
future conventions and make other
radical changes so that the party shall
stand "for constructive and progress
sive activities in the affairs of govern
ment."
"Does the suggestion to reunite the
party mean that those who have join
ed the Progressive party are to be
asked to come back?'' Senator Cum
minis was asked.
-'It means just as I have said before
that the convention would be a sort
of Lords supper and all those who be-
lieved might partake," replied Sena-
tor Cummins.
After the conference. which ad-
journed after being in session for two
days, the following statement was Civ
en- out: -......-..-
Official statement Given Out.
'tAt an informal conference of Re-
publicanS from eleven states held. at
Chicago May Il. 1913. it was voted
that it be submitted to the national
Republican committee as the opinion
of those present that national con-
vention of the party should be held
this year at as early a date as May,
if practicable, for the purpose of con-
sidering the eXpediency of changing
the basis of representation in future
conventions so that delegates shall
proportionally represent Republican
votes and not general population, to
the end that the will of the members
of the party may be more accurately
determined; also for the purpose of
changing the rules relating to dele
gates and members of the national
committee so that the primary cleo
tiOn laws of the various states shall
be recognized and have full force and
also for the purpose of making such
other changes in the methods of con-
Quoting national conventions and cam
paigns as shall conduce to giving the
utmost possible effect to the princi-
pies and policies of the party.
'It was further the opinion that
such a convention might properly and
usefully take any other action desir-
able to reunite the party and to give
assurance that it stands for construc-
tive and progressive activities in the
affairs of government to the end that
the common welfare may he advanced
"It was the unanimous belief of those
present that the changes suggested
should be made forthwith and that the
national committee be urged to take
such steps to such an end"
Troutman on Committee.
A committee composed Of Robert
Luce. former lieutenant governor of
Massachusetts, Senator Borah, Senator
William S. Kenyon of Iowa. w. F.
James, state senator of Michigan. and
James A Troutman. state senator of
Kansas, has been appointed to draw up
a statement expressing the sentiments
of the conference. This committee drew
up the foregoing and it was adopted
That concluded the conference. Senator
Borah and MI. Hadley both left imme-
diately each saying he had to catch a
train.
Senator Borah S: ID that while at
first he had been somewhat skeptical
about the benefits to be derived from
a national convention this year, he
finally concluded to join in the
unanimous belief that such a conVen-
ton should be held. Mr.. Hadley who
did not participate in the conference
Yesterday but came in today Just as it
was ending, said he was in entire SYM
pathy with the movement.
Much interest centered about the
significance of including in the state
ment the phras- about "reuniting the
party
Senator Cummins explained that it
s'meant just what it said'' but no
lengthy talk had been INDUCED in
about inviting members of the Pro-
publican ranks.
Others in Conference
Among others who participated in
the conference were United States
Senators A. j. Gronna of North Da-
and L. Y. Sherman of Illinois, and
Representatives J. w. Good of Iowa
Gilbert n. Haugen of Iowa, Everis A
HAYES of California, Louis c. Cramp-
ton of Michigan and Sydney Anderson
of Minnesota.
1--WE recognized at the meeting that
progressiveism in the Republican
ranks has come to stay said Repre-
sentative Good. I'VE felt that it must
be firmly and emphatically embodied
in Republican principles. 1t was
brought out that elections held since
last fall show that the Progressive
party merely was temporary protest
against the methods of the Republican
convention and that as soon as the