The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-01-03
WHAT PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS
OF THE NEXT CONGRESS
ARE TO DO.
TO HOLD THEIR OWN CAUCUS
They Win Introduce RiHs Based on
Platform, Especially for AmeIiora-
ton Of Laborer's Condition and for
Abolition Of Child Labor.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


country among people irrespective of
their political affiliation in the legis.
iatiVe plans of the Progressive party's
representation in the two houses OF
the next congress. People apparently
want to know what the Progressives
intend to do through their representa-.
tives In the house and senate when
President-elect Wilson calls congress
together In extra session. 1t Is pos.
slDle today to give on sufficient au-
tnorfty some of the legislative plans
OF the Progressive party's leaders and
members-elect to congress.
In the house of representatives in
the Sixty-third congress there will be
nineteen members to hold Progressive
credentials without any hyphen before
or after the name. In the senate
there will be two Progressives, but
before they can so be written down
tnere will be necessity of removing
an at present existing hyphen which
helps to designate them as Progress
siye-Republicans.
They Won't "Go Over.
In the next house it is the intention
OF the nineteen Progressives-it Is
possible there may be one or two
more than this number-to hold a eau
Gus of their own and to demand
proper committee representation. 1t
is the expressed determination of the
leaders of the Progressive party now
here to refuse to listen to any over
lures from ive-Republicans to
go over to them on any line of legis-
lative endeavor. The Progressive
leaders say that the new party mem
hers will be perfectly willing to act
with the Progressive-Republ on
many lines of legislation, but that the
Observation-Disclosures must come
over because Progresslves are deter
mined not to take the initiative and
TO go over"
1t Is the intention of the Progress
sives In house and senate when the
new congress meets to introduce bills
which If they should become laws will
effect the planks of the Progressive
party's platform. The Progressiyes
intend If they can to beat the Pro-
neutrality-suspicious. in the race to
the bill basket" at the opening Of
the session. Men of all parties in
Washington recognize that there is
precious little difference of legislative
intention between the Progressive
Republicans and the Progressives, but
the latter want to get, first credit If
they can for the introduction of
measures looking to the amelioration
of the laborer's condition generally,
and to the abolition of child labor in
the United States.
VIII Urge Child Labor Law.
There are of course other measures
to which the Progressives at once
will attach their evidences of loyalty,
but their plan is first to advocate bills
which are known specifically as hav-
ing the sanction of the delegates to
the rarty's convention at Chicago.
Some of the Democrats in congress
are talking of the necessity of intro
ducing Progressive measures akin to
those which the Progressives intend
to introduce. IT Is not likely that a
child-labor bill will be one of those
having Democratic sanction Secause
in the Democratic view federal child
labor bill is unconstitutional, and 1t
fs said that Woodrow Wilson believes
that all child labor legislation, or GER
tainly most of 1t. should be a matter
for consideration and passage by the
individual states.
1t is known that every effort will
he made by the Progressives to Sc
cure foothold at least for child labor
legislation along the lines of the Bev.
eridge measure of some years since,
measure which failed of passage be-
cause of opposition on the unconsti-
tutional grounds already noted. The
Progressives, 1t is said, feel that child
labor legislation has peculiar hu.
manitarian appeal which will keep Is
as live issue until some law against
It can be put on the statute books.
Why Secretary Wilson is Proud.
1t perhaps goes without saying
that Secretary of Agriculture James
Wilson of Iowa has absolutely no
thought that he is to be reap
pointed when his presidential name
sake enters the White House.
Secretary Wilson has served longer
than any other cabinet officer In the
history of the government. He ex-
poets to return to his home In Trayer.
Tama county. Iowa. early In March,
when he will have served as secretary
OF agriculture for sixteen years.
It may be of interest to hear what
Secretary Wilson had to say in an in
terview concerning the achievements
OF the agricultural department under
his administration. This question
was asked the secretary by a cor
respondent seeking an interview:
What win be those things upon
which when you return home after
March you WIN look back with the
most pride?'
II you start me talking shop here
you viii never. get away" the secre-
tary exclaimed But there are some
things OF which am more than
proud. 1t is hard to pick out the
special things. Well, here's one:
When wa want dauv, .o,xxh A. -.