The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-12-18
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITOL
States To Control


States To Control
Washington, b. c., Dec. 15-Events
of the past week have made it more
certain than before that the Republi
can national committee, which meets
in Washington tomorrow, will call 6
national convention for the reorganiza
ton of the Republican party. AS q
!, condition precedent to harmony, the
committee is expected to admit al
once that delegates to the, convention
shall be elected under rules peculiar
to the several states and not undel
DEGREES Of the national committee
The proportion of representation cred
tied to each state will not be changed
by the committee, that action being
within the province Of only the con
vention, according to the decision al
the law committee.
The attitude Of Senator Elihu Root
together with the decisive action Of
the New York Republican conference
toward primaries, was the most signifi
cant feature Of week which swerve,
rapidly toward agreement for q get
together meeting.
While Senator Root reached thes<
conclusions, which coincide with the
major demands Of the wing of the
party headed by Senators Cummins,
Bristow. and Norris, it is notable
fact that these same progressive Re.
publicans have evinced no intention
npf acceding to demands from Kansas
and Nebraska that they cut loose
from the Republican ship. A Pro.
gressive conference At Topeka threat
ened Senator Bristow with the politt'
cal gallows If he did not at once re-
nounce his Republican VOWS. He was
not frightened. Senator Norris de-
clared- that the third-party movement.
he is now convinced, was a mistake.
While the Washington Post in sig
ing up the situation refers to Sena'
tor Borah as a presidential possibil
ity, and he is generally regarded as
occupying an exceptionally strong posi-.
ton at this time, the Senator and his
immediate friends do not seem to be
concerning themselves about it and
are apparently doing nothing to fur
Their his chances in this direction. At
the same time, the Senator has al
ways maintained that the rank and
file of the Republican party are pro-
gressive, and that if given the oppor-
tunity they will reorganize the party
along progressive lines. This oppor-
tunity now seems to be opening to
them and for that reason Senator Bo.
rah is more hopeful than ever that
the party will present reunited front
in 1916.
Senator Cummins has at all times
remained a moderate Republican Next
year he enters a senatorial fight In
Iowa, which is to be won only with
a homogeneous Republican backing.
Conservative Republicans are mani.
testify less prone than month ago
to assert, with some venom, that the
party must be reorganized by its
friends, not it's enemies"
Leading Republicans of all fractional
colors have now reached agreement, IT
appears, that delegates accredited by
states shall be accepted by the con-
vention on prima facie evidence Of
legal selection. The reduction Of
Southern representation is the bust
ness Of the convention, not Of the
committee.
Progressive lines were badly broken
in the November election. It is cur
rent comment that little inducement
is needed to start general stampede
for Republican ranks.
William A. Prendergast, of New
York, who played SO prominent a part
in the christening of the third party
last year, did not await the word OF
Roosevelt, but plainly stated his pur-
pose to return at once to the Republi'
can party.
The cohesive qualities of Republi.
cans in Congress are being brought to
the surface by the iron rule Of the
present administration. A community
of interest has, in fact, been built
ND in the Senate, where Republicans
of all stripe take turns in denouncing
the inflexible partisan spirit Of the
majority.
President Wilson's unexpected es-
pousal Of a presidential primary law
Mas tilted the political balance per-
Aeptibly. It at once suggested .
Method of effective Republican, reor-
gnnization, and caused rift in the
lutte from which Democracy has evoked
harmonious tones. Republicans are
not agreed as to the wisdom Of such
m Innovation HIT the auRgostfOn has