The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-05-15
REHABILITATION OF
G. 0.P.ATTEMPTED
CONCRETE PROPOSAL PRESENT.
ED TO CHICAGO CONFERENCE
IN SESSION.
TALK CONVENTION THIS YEAR
informally Indorse Same-Presiden.
tiaI Primaries Favored-Nine
States Are Repre-
sented.

Chicago, May 13.-A concrete pro-
posal for the rehabilitation of the Re
publican party was presented 70 the
conference of Republican senators and
leaders In session here by a commit
tee of five, appointed after the con.
ferees had discussed the situation full
ly.
Consensus Of Opinion.
The conference revolved about the
report which the committee drafted
and which expressed the consensus
OF the opinion of the Republican lead
ers attending the meeting.
The committee is composed of Rob-
ert Luce, Massachusetts; Senator
Borah, Idaho; State Senator w. Frank
James, Michigan; State Senator w. S.
Kenyon, Iowa, and State Senator
James Trautman, Kansas. At the
conference we're six Republican Unit
ed States senators and 32 other Re-
publican leaders, representing nine
states.
The immediate subject before the
conference vas regarding what 40
ton should be sought at the meeting
of the Republican national committee
at Washington on May "a, looking to-
ward recognizing the party along
progressive lines" and as to whether
there shall be a Republican national
convention this year.
Lasted Four Hours.
The conference lasted for more
than four hours. Ii was held in a ho-
where the seven governors last year
drafted the letter urging Governor
Roosevelt TO be a candidate for the
presidency.
Although the public was not admit
ted. Senator Albert b. Cummins stat
ed: 1T was merely an informal talk.
a sort Of round table discussion OF
what may be done for the best inter
est of the party by r~eorganizing it
along progressive lines"
Presided over by Senator l.. Y.
Sherman of Illinois, the discussion
was participated in by Senator Cum
minis, William 4. Borah of Idaho, G..
/. Crawford OF South Dakota. A. ].
Gronna OF North Dakota, William s.
Kenyon OF Iowa, Congressman Il. A..
Hayes of California, Congressman ].
w. Good of Iowa and many members
of state legislatures.
National Convention Talk.
did you come to a decision as to
whether there ought to be a national
convention this year," Senator Cum
Minis was asked. 1--WE did not decide
on that, but everyone seems TO feel
that the condition of the party seems
to necessitate a convention this year.
Our informal talk today will be fol-
lowed by a more formal conference
tomorrow when former Governor Had
ley of Missouri will be here. We
shall then issue a statement telling
Just what we think ought to be done
In behalf of the par l"
Somebody asked senator Kenyon
whether there was to be an effort
made to get a new national commit
tee.
THAT subject did not come up. but
most of us would have no objection IL
the present committeeman resigned"
replied Senator Kenyon. What did
come up was a proposition to have
the next committee take office O O
after its election Sc that il might pass
upon the credentials Of delegates to
the 1916 convention"
The conference brought together
the largest a~ssemblage of Republican
leaders in Chicago since last years
convention. When Senator Kenyon
noticed that the Dom assigned for the
conference was the one used as the
Progressive party headquarters he
said. What, are we going to reor-
ganize the Republican party in the
very the Progressive party was
born in?"
Senator Sherman gave out what he
said was a synopsis OF the discussion.
I'VE considered" he said, whether
the national committee should be as
infiexible in character as it has been.
The opinion was that the committee
would be amenable to public opinion
and keep pace with what is going on.
There was no definite action on the
question Of calling a national conven.
ton this year. A call. OF course.
would have to come from the national
committee.
We agreed that southern represen-
tation In .he convention should be cut
down according to the strength Of the
party in each southern state. We did
not take up the details as to how
this should be done, but left that to
be worked out later"