Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1913-05-16
PARTY ORGANIZERS
IN SESSION
PROGRESSlVEREPUBLICANS met
in CHICAGO MONDAY
Will CHANGE METHODS
TO REFORM PARTY IN HOPE THAT 1T
MAY BE REUNITED. PROMINENT
men ARE PRESENT.

Chicago, May 16th-First steps
toward "reuniting the republican
party" we're taken at q conference Of
United States senators aud other lead
ers of the party held here Monday.
The conference decided to call upon
the republican national committee at
It's meeting scheduled for May Oath
at Washington to issue call for q
national convention this year to re-
organize the party ''along progressive
lines"
Senator Albert B. Commins. of Iowa,
Senator William E Borah, of Idaho,
and former Governor Herbert s. Had
ley, together with the other leaders at
the conference. agreed that the pro-
posed convention shall change the
basis of representation in future con-
ventions and make other radical
changes 40 that the party shall stand
for 'constructive and progressive &C.
tivities in the affairs of government"
"Does the suggestion to reunite the
party mean that those who joined the
progressive party are to be asked to
come back?" Senator Cummins was
asked.
ut means just as have said before;
that the convention would be . sort of
Lords supper and all those who be-
lieved might take part," replied Sene-
tor Cummins.
STATEMENT MADE.
After the conference was adjourned,
after being in session for two days, the.
following statement was given out:
''At an informal conference of repub-
licans from eleven states, held in Chi.
oago, May u, 1914, it was voted that it
be submitted to the national republi-
can committee as the opinion of those
present that national convention of
the party should be held this year as
early as may be practicable for the
purpose Of considering the expedient
OF changing the basis of representation
in future conventions 80 that the dele
gates shall proportionstely represent
republican voters and not general pop.
alstion to the end that the will of the
members of the party may be more &C.
curately determined; also for the pur.
pose of changing the rules relating to
delegates and members of the national
committee 50 that the primary election
laws of the various states shall be rec.
ognized and have full force; and also
for the purpose of making such other
changes in the methods of conducting
national conventions ana campaigns as
shall conduce to giving the utmost pos.
sible effect to the principles and poll
cies Of the party.
1T was further the opinion that such
q convention might properly and sue
cessfully take any other action desira.
ble to reunite the party and give as.
surance that it stands for constructive
and progressive activity in the affairs
Of government to the end that the
common welfare may be advanced.
1T was the unanimous belief Of
those present that the changes suggest
ed should be made forthwith and that
the national committee be urged to
take steps to such an end"
HADLEY IN SYMPATHY
A committee composed of Robert
Luch, former lieutenant governor of
Massachusetts, Senator Borah, Senator
William 8. Kenyon, of Iowa; w. 8.
James, state senator of Michigan; and
James A. Toutman, state senator of
Kansas, have been appointed to draw
up statement expressing the senti.
ment of the conference. This commit.
tee drew up the foregoing and it was
adopted. That concluded the confer
enoe, Senator Borah and Mr.. Hadley
both left Immediately each saying be
had to catch train.
senator Borsh said that while at first
he had been somewhat skeptical about
the benefits to be derived from ma
tional convention this year, he finally
concluded to join in the unanimous
belief that such convention should
be held. Mr.. Hadley who did not par.
ticipate in the conference yesterday
but came in today just ss it was ending
said he was In entire sympathy with
the movement.
Much interest centered about the
aianiflosnce of including in the state