The Hartford republican., 1913-05-16
DISCUSS PARTY
REHABILITATION
Republican Conference Held
In Chicago.
Recognize Changes Are Necessary
And Welcome Reor-
ganization.

Chicago, May 11.-A concrete pro-
posal for the rehabilitation Of the
Republican party Is to be presented
tomorrow to the conference Of Re-
fiblican Senators and leaders hree
by a committee Of five appointed to-
night after the conferences had dis
cussed fully the situation.
Tomorrow's conference Is to re-
voive about the report which the
committee drafted tonight and which
is TO express the consensus OF the Re-
publican leaders who are attending
the meeting. The committee Is
composed OF Robert Luce. Of
Massachusetts,; Senator Borah,
Idaho; State Senator Frank James,
Michigan; United States Senator w.
s. Kenyon, Iowa, and State Senator
James Trautman, Kansas.
Proposals to reorganizo were dis
cussed at conference here today
between six Republican United States
Senators and thirty-two other Re-
publican leaders, representing nine
States. The immediate subject before
the conference was as to what action
shall be sought at the meeting Of the
Republican National Committee at
Washington on May "a, looking to-
ward "reorganizing the party along
progressive lines" and as to wheth-
,er there shall be Republican ma
tional convention this year.
The conference lasted for more
than four hours and was held in a
hotel overlooking the lake In a room
where the seven Governors last year
drafted the letter urging Col. Roose-
welt to be a candidate forsthe presi-
dency. Although the public was not
admitted, Senator Albert B. Cummins
stated lit was merely an informal
talk, a sort of round table discussion
of what may be done for the best in
terests of the party by reorganizing
IL dtOnB pTOSTtSSlNt IiucS.
Presided over by Senator l.. Y.
Sherman of Illinois, the discussion
was participated in by Senator Cum
Minis, VIM. L. Borah Of Idaho. C. /.
Cawford of South Dakota, A. j.
Gronna of North Dakota. VIM. S.
Kenyon Of Iowa, Congressman E. A.
Hayes Of California. Congressman J.
w. Coode of Iowa and many members
OF State Legislatures.
did you come to decision
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 con-
dition of the party seems to neces-
sitate- convention this year.
Somebody asked Senator Kenyon
Anether there was to be an effort
made to get a new national COM
mittee.
That subject did not come up, but
most of us would have no objection
II the present committeeman resign
ed" replied Senator Kenyon. What
did come up was proposition to
have the next committee take office
soon after its election SO that II
might pass upon the credentials Of
the delegates to the 1916 con-
vention."
The conference brought together
the largest assemblage of Republican
leaders in Chicago since last years
convention. When Senator Kenyon
noticed that the room assigned for
the conference was also the one used
as the Progressive party headquart-
ers, he said:
"what! What! Are We going to re-
organize the Republican Party in the
very room where the Progressive
Party was born?"
When the meeting adjourned for
the day Senator Sherman gave out
what he said. was synopsis Of the
discussion:
1--WE considered" he said. "wheth-
er the National Committee should be
a. .inflexable In character as 1t has
been. The opinion was that the Com
mittee would be amenabie to public
opinion and keep pace with what ID
going on. There was no definite &C.
ton on the question Of calling a Ma
tfonal Convention this year. Call oi
course would have TO come from the
National Committee. The question