The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-20
FEAR CONVENTION
TO REFORA! c. D. P.
MAY GO TOO FAR
Republican lie aders
Would Put Curb on
Proceedings.
TO BAR PLATFORM
Neither Will They Tolerate
Development of BoMms
for the Presidency.
TO BAR PLATFORM

4 w uSuluS lOup ~. N w Illl luc CuIl
ling of special republican convention
TO revise the basis of representation
foregone conclusion, some of the
leaders in the so-called reorganiza
tion movement are becoming convinc-
led of the necessity OF sitting tightly
on the lid in ordertto prevent the eX-
|traordinary conclaSe from going far
ther than intended.
1t is declared that if the special
convention seeks to do more than re-
| form the basis of representation and
| the methods of organizing conven-
II tions that have caused criticism and
invited disaster in the past the de-
| sired effect of the off-year party gath
ering will be nullified.
The danger in the situation is full
| ly appreciated. One of the arguments
advanced by those who originally
were opposed to the special conven-
ton idea was that@here was no tell
ing what the delegates might attempt
when they meet. Even now it is sug-
gested in some quarters that the
special convention ought to draft
platform of principles upon which re-
publicans can wage their fight in the
congressional campaign of next fall.
But this suggestion finds no favor
among those champions of progress
ivism whose influence has been great
est in bringing about the present get
together situation.
Will BE Under Old Plan.
The main objection to the promul-
cation of new platform at this time
! is that the special,ss.ivention will be
|assembled under the old rules and on
the old basis of representation.
Therefore. anything which it might
do aside from revising the methods
of organization and so forth. would
be open to the complaint attaching to
platforms and tickets that have been
h put out in the recent past.
In this connection, some interest
| ing gossip has been precipitated with
in the last few days relative to Senat
or LaFollette of Wisconsin and the
reorganization movement With his
well-known penchant for playing a
lone hand most of the time, Senator
LaFollette took no part in the prelim-
mary movement for special conven-
| ton. No one has been able to find
out just how he regarded it.
| Personally the Wisconsin senator
still is mum, but since the calling of
certainty the intimation has come
from some of LaFollette's ardent
friends that here is a grand little op
portunity for Fighting Bob" to pitch
in and make contest for delegates
with view of attempting to force
to the front, through the regular
party channels, the radical political
| ideas which he espouses.
There is just enough to the sug-
gestion to cause some anxiety on the
part of those who want to confine
the conventin to the primary object
for which it will be called and to
keep the interest of the innocent by
1 stander keyed to high pitch.
Want no BOOmlets
Those who are leading the reor-
lganzation movement also are deter
lmined to prevent, if possible, the use
of the convention TO exploit tentative
i presidential tickets for the 1916 con-
test. Latterly there has been some
talk which couples the names of rep
resentatives of the rival factions in
connection with the suggestion OF
harmonizing past differences.
The perennial Hughes boom has
!. been given new impetus by the pre-
liminaries of the special convention
plan. The names of several pronounc-
ed progressives. such as Senator
Cummins and Senator Borah, have
been used with the object of suggest
ling combinations which would heal
: the party schism along personal lin
es. The real get together or reorgan-
{ ization proponents depreciate this
talk, and declare the whole scheme
. will fail unless all questions as to
: tickets and platforms are left to the
convention of the party which meets
under an entirely new dispensation
e In discussing this phase of the sit
i uation Senator Cummins, who has
, written much on the general scope
g ;of the reorganization movement
said:
1.-The time for doing the kind O
work which takes slatemaking ints
consideration is past. The convention
of 1915 will be representative re
publican convention, if we succeed il
: the effort we now are making t.
: change the rules with reference to th'
l. basis of representation and the pow
e ers of the national committee. Th
l. rank and file of the party will deter
W mine through a majority what kim
o of platform will best express its po
l. litical principles and its purposes, 3
n far as legislation is concerned.
In the selection Of candidates TO