The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-05
INITIAL CAUCUS
OF PROGRESS|VES
Third Party Members Get
Together and Plan
Campaign.
MURDOCH FOR SPEAKER
Denounce Democrats and Repub-
licans and Laud Theodore
Roosevelt.
MURDOCH FOR SPEAKER

Washington, April AT it's first
caucus. held this afternoon, the Pro-
gressives, the third party organiza ton
In the House. nominated Representa-
tive Victor Murdock. of Kansas. as
candidate for Speaker OF the House.
and perfected plans for an aggressive
Legislative campaign. Fifteen mem
bers OF the House attended, the confer
ence and the affiliation OF four mem
hers who have not yet reached Wash
ington was announced
The caucus or conference. was held
in the majority conference room of
the House Office Building. and crowd
or interested spectators. many of them
women, attended. flood OF oratorv
swept through the entire proceedings.
and the new congressman were ac-
corded abundant applause as they de-
nounced both Democratic and Repub-
ltcan parties. spoke OF "bossism" and
"standpatters,' and lauded Progressive
principles and Theodore Roosevelt. An
expected Keynote message" from
colonel Roosevelt failed to material
ize. The members who attended the
| ierence We're: Representatives
Ruply. Temple Walters, Lewis. HUI
ings and Kelley, OF PENNSYLVANIA: Bell
and Stephens. OF California: Nfurdocl,
or Kansas; Hinebaugh and Copley. of
Illinois: Bryan. OF Washington; Laf
ferty, OF Oregon; Chandler of New
YORK. and I.indbergh of minnesota
Ihose recorded but not present were:
Falconer. or Washiueton; Woodru1 or
Michigan: Nolan. OF California. and
Thomson. of Illinois
Action Not binding.
The caucus adopted resolution de-
clarinG that its action was not b;nd-
ing upon the members Attending but
mat each member was free to s,Innort
progressive measures appearing in the
House from any source
After lengthy discussion, in tbe
course OF which AIr. Murdock said tho
fTogressives were entitled tn ronral
scntation on the important House o,,,,,
inittees. not only because of thojr n,,
tnerlcai strength, but also bccause or
the large Progressive vote cast for tbe
party In the presidential election a
coH,Ini,tee was appointed to consult
maJority Leader Underwood about Pro
sIessNe committee assignments Mr..
Muruock said he expected thirty mr.
forty committee places for procres.
sives. eS-
legislative committee composed of
heprcsentatives Kelley. Chandler. CON
ley Bell and Lindbergh was appointed
10 frame the legislative measures
"hich VIII form the Progressie pro-
gram.
All OF the Progressive members Will
meet next Tuesday with Dean Lewis,
OF Pennsylvania University; Jane Ad
dams. Clifford Pinchot. Walter weyI
and other members OF the Legislative
committee of the national Progressive
party TO consider the legislative pro-
gram.
Attacks Present Huics.
Representative L.anerty, of Oregon.
attacked the present rules OF the
Rouse, and offered a number OF amend
iitents to the rules for consideration of.
the conference. committee was ap-
pointed to take up the matter still
another committee was named 10 con
slider the complaint OF Representative
Bryan that the new members were
being disseminated against In the as
isignmont of office space.
The conference went on record In
| favor of the creation Of standing
committee OF the House to consider the
woman suffrage question.