The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-04
New Progressive Caucus Star
ties Washington Today.
Proceedings Also Were Attend
ed by Women.
MURDOCH UP FOR SPEAKER
Kansas Representative Is New
Party Candidate.
Keynote Message From Roose-
velt's Speeches.

Washington, April 4.-Representa-
tive Victor Murdock of Kansas, was
unanimously elected by the Progress
slVe party caucus here today as its
! candidate for speaker of the house
| thirteen representatives attended and
affiliatfon of four representatives who
have not reached Washington was an
nounced. Representative III. w. Tenn
pie of Pennsylvania, was chosen per-
manent chairman of the caucus.
Washington, April 4-The unprece-
dented spectacle of a party legislative
caucus, open to the public and attend
ed by women was seen at the capitol
| today. The occasion was the first con-
ference of the house progressives. Less
| than score of members of the new
party, declared that many new mem
oers unable to reach Washington in
time for today's conference ha6 enlisted
In the progressive party by letter.
| The program for today's conference
included reading of a Keynote message
! from Theodore Roosevelt speeches by
members of the caucus and the placing
or Rep. Murdock in nomination as the
new party's candidate for speaker.
| Representatives limbaugh and Muir
dock the most active in the movement
| expect an increase in membership
later on, and are pressing for recognf-
ton on important committees The
progressives demanded the rights of a
dlstlnct party in congress. They have
legislative program, a candidate for
! speaker, and count on the backing of
the national party organization with
the personal influence of former Presi-
! dent Roosevelt. I'VE constitute a new
party because the old parties are out
worm declared Mr.. Murdock in his an
| nouncement as a speakership candf-
date. The elements which control the
Democratic party come half heartedly
/ incompetently and with inadeouate
weapons to battle with the powers that
prey and piIlage. Those who have per-
Verted the purposes of the Republican
party are in league with privilege, and
! at heart distrustful of all majorities
| Our war is with an enemy that fears
neither the Republicans nor the Demo-
crat party. Our struggle is with the
| forces of privilege. There is a new
party in the land. the tramp of four
million citizens who, without time for
| organization marched to the polls in
November to vote for Theodore Roose-
velt."
Representative Murdock announced
today that the caucus would elect a
committee to name committee to take
charge of the progressive legislative
program. meeting has been called
for next Tuesday when the legislative
committee of the caucus will meet
members of the legislative committee
of the national Progressive party
among them Walter Weyl, Jane Ad-
dams. Dean Lewis of the University of
Pennsylvania, and Clifford Pinchot.
The caucus was called to order by
Representative Hinebaugh of Illinois,
as temporary chairman.
Hinebaugh's Speech.
Il esteem it a great honor" said
Representative Hinebaugh in his OPEN
ing speech, Ito have the privilege of
calling to order the first conference
of the representatives of the Progress
sive party. Four million five hun
dred thousand attended the birth of
our party and a much larger number
have signified their intention of guard
ing and directing it's growth. All great
movements are the result of the
awakened conscience of the people.
The overlords of special privilege
would not heed the people, organized
greed refused to stay its hand and SO
the Progressive party was born. The
nation will little note or long remem-
ber what we say here; but what we do
in the Sixty third congress if we ear
nestly endeavor to carry out the in
structions of those who sent us will
never be forgotten. We are making
history.
I'VE stand for the open caucus. We
will not be bound by the party whip.
We believe the people are entitled to
know how their business is trans
acted
Representative Murdock accepting
the nomination for speaker closed his
address as follows:
"Of every American citizen man and
woman, we ask cooperation. OF every
American who is seeking to restore
through the intricacies and complex
ties of the day the line that divides
right from wrong, we ask help.
"If he is able to see through the
spectacle of material prosperity the
wan face of the child factory workers.
if through the darkness he can feel
the distress of underpaid and over
worked women, then his place is in
the ranks of the Progressives.
1--WE set the public welfare in first
place. To those who are heSitating,
because of party ties and traditions,
we bid welcome to our ranks.
= Peter and John came to the gate
where a beggar sat, moved by the
narrowest of human conceptions, lift
ing his palm for aims. Peter, fresh
from the radiance of the Master, who
had come with the last word of truth
to the beggard, Silver and gold have
none, but such as nave L give
thee
1--WE are not asking aims of your
house We are moved by the inspira-
ton of this-the desire to serve. We
serve truth, not repose. We have
turned our backs on the past and it's
preiudfce We are facing the future
and its nty--brotherhood Who