Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-05
Washington Letter
b01 LIZ MIX alkkzoAS; 5GgR $dZnE


financially interested in the proposed
legislation these and other imme-
date reforms the Progressives will
demand at the opening of Congress.
They DO not expect to get them this
year They said SO frankly in their
conference, but they expect to make
the public understand the necessity
for these reforms.
Conference Incomprehensible to Scribes.
To most of the blase newspaper
correspondents who attended the
conference, the meeting was incom-
prehensible. Washington newspaper
men, those who have seen the sham
of politics and legislation for few
years. are like to be blase and cyni-
cal. At the opening of yesterdays
session many of the correspondents,
those who had seen nothing of the
Progressive campaign last fall, and
considered the new party mere rae
tional fight, were inclined to take
the whole business as a huge joke
1t was an interesting sight to see
the amusement die out OF their
faces and expressions of incredulity
and amazement take its place. as
they realized that these men were in
earnest, and that the new party is
an accomplished thing to be serious
" reckoned with in legislation and
in the coming campaign.
Traditions were ruthlessly assailed,
net theories of Intellectual reform de-
nounced, and new ideas. a few years
ago deprecated as anarchistic, social
istic and destructive were asserted
by the members in this conference,
and the old-timers among the news
paper men looked worried and shaken
| before it was over
| Our purpose is service" said Vic
| tor Murdoch. 1--WE are neither ham
| pered by traditions nor corrupted by
power. Our creed comprehends ma
tional need before sectional advan
tage, humanity before technicality.
the common welfare before special
privilege. We promise to stand
against all sham efficient, specious
half-measures which keep the promise
of reform and betterment to the ears
of the people, but break il to their
hopes. We are few in numbers now,
but will not be so for long.
I'm order that the people may al
ways rule we are for the initiative,
the referendum and the direct pri-
mary. We are for equal suffrage, for
] the readiustment of the relations be-
tween the people and their legisla~
lures and courts, so that the repre-
sentatives of the people shall always
represent the will of the people. In
order that every man who holds Office
may be accountable to the voters, we
are for the recall We believe in the
/ full recognition of the rights of labor,
prohibition of child labor, minimum
| wage for working women. an eight
hour day, creation of commissions to
fix the tariff scientifically and to SUI
! pervise industrial corporations, to the
end that we may put stop to extor-
| ton and give peace to honest bust
ness. We want tariff revision and
reduction, with full opportunity for
open debate and a record vote on
every question and schedule, and not
by promise of patronage or threat Of
Withholding patronage. We are for
such currency reform as will destroy
the money trust I'VE are for a
system of making it easier to amend
the federal constitution
! Murdoch announced that Clifford
Pinchot. Dean Lewis, Jane Adams
and other well-known economists
would assist the Progressive members
in framing progressive legislative
| measures.