The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-20
Republican National Commit
tee Ignores Plans.
No Convention for ReOrganiza-
ton This Year.
TRY A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
Press Bureau in Washington in
Defense of Cause.
Southern Delegates Bring Fear
to Leaders.

Washington. May 2o.-There will be no
Republican national convention this
year to take steps looking to reor-
ganization of the Republican party.
The harmony plan proposed by the
reorganizers at their meeting in Chi
cago recently, which contemplated the
converting of a national convention to
reduce the Southern representation in
such conventions hereafter, will be
ignored by the Republican national
committee, which is in control of the
reactionary "old guard" This course
has been agreed upon by the leaders
of the conservative faction, and there
seems no doubt that 1t will control.
When the executive committee of the
Republican national committee meets
in Washington next Saturday, it will
take no action looking to the issuance
of a call for a convention. This ex-
ecutive committee in itself does not
hold the power to summon conven-
ton, but a recommendation from it to
the full committee would have the ef-
feet of calling a convention.
Press Bureau Will Be Established.
1t developed today that the real rea-
son for the meeting of the executive
committee here is to arrange for an or
ganization to keep up the work of pros
elyting until the opening of the next
national campaign 1t is proposed to
establish a press bureau with headquar-
tiers, probably in Washington, which
will forward the propaganda of Repub-
licanfsm and keep in close touch with
political affairs. The Democratic ma
tionaI committee has just arranged for
such an organization and the Progress
sives have had a bureau of this kind in
existence for months. To carry out
plans of this nature is entirely within
the scope of the executive committee
and it can be done without consulting
the full committee. Chairman Hilles
has called the meeting, 1t is SAID, Ior
this purpose.
The announcement that the harmony
plans proposed by the reorganiZers in
Chicago last week are not to be taken
up follows the dinner given by Frank
lin Murphy, the national committeeman
last Friday.
'sSocial Function of Business.
The dinner, as has been stated by
those in attendance and by the host,
was merely a social function, but it af-
forded the opportunity for leaders OF
the standpat element to exchange views
on the situation. All of the guests
were members Of the Republican ma
tionaI committee, with the exception OF
Senator Penrose, who retired last year.
Among them were William Barnes, Jr-.
of New York and F. w. Eastabrook OF
New Hampshire. George X SnelOon'
the treasurer, and Charles F. BROKER
of Connecticut, two of TIE "old guard"
leaders. were expected, but were I'M
able to be present.
No official report of the conference
was given out, but it was learned that
the sentiment among them was to the
effect that all should move slowly in
the matter of reorganization. The
proposition for calling a Republican
national convection this year was not
favored. In the first place the pro-
posa1 to reduce the southern repre-
sentation is not believed to be effec-
tive. and, in the second place, there is
a fear that it cannot be carried out
without difficulty. The southern
members of the national committee
are a large factor and if they fought
the proposition. as undoubtedly they
would, and could get some support
among the northern members. they
could defeat a plan to call the conven-
ton. In short, it is regarded as dan
gerous thing to attempt and a game
not worth the candle.
1t is probable that there will be no
convention at all until 1915, when one
As convened to nominate a national
ticket. The "Old Guard" is not dis
posed to permit the radical element
of the party to make the terms for re-
ORGANIZATION.