Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-16
PROGRESSIVE SENTIMENT PRE-.
DOMINATES IN NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION.
SPECIAL CONVENTION OF
PARTY IS ENDORSED
Revision Of Rules and Reduction Of
Southern Representation Advocated
BY Many Members - Wieksrsham
Drives Homo Final Shot Showing
Necessity For Reform.

Washington. Sept. 1.-THE republic
can congressional committee, newly
elected, has begun to reflect the pro-
gressive sentiment which has swept
over the party. A substantial proper
ton Of this membership. probably a
majority. favors q special national con-
vention OF the republican party at
which reforms shall be instituted.
A carefulpoll made last week indi-
Gates the strong probability Of favor
able action upon the resolution of Con-
gresham Cramton Of Michigan, pro-
gressive republican. This resolution
calls for special convention at which
the party should commit itself to the
essential features Of the Cummins pro-
gram. These features are the reduc.
ton Of southern representation, the
revision Of the rules whereby delegates
elected by legal state primaries should
be seated in national conventions. and
the further revision of the rules so
would be permitted to take office at the
time designated by the law Of the
state which chose him.
MOT one OPonIy opposed.
The poll was as complete as was pos
sible in view Of the number Of abb
sentees. Seventeen members Of the
committee were sounded. The total
membership at present is thirty-four.
Thus half of the present membership
was given an opportunity to go on rec
ord. OF the seventeen. ten were for
the special convention. and with an
occasional minor reservation were for
all the reform program. These ten
were Champion of Michigan, Howell of
Utah, Kinkaid Of Nebraska, French of
Idaho, Esch Of Wisconsin, Young Of
North Dakota, Blumley Of Vermont.
Sterling Of South Dakota, Catron OF
New Mexico and Roberts Of Nevada
Six were non commital, but Of these,
one, Senator Brandegee Of Connecti-
cut, is known to have expressed ap-
probation Of the Cramton resolution in
the committee session. Those nom
committal were Woods Of Iowa, Austin
of Tennessee, Madden OF Illinois. Bran
degee Of Connecticut, Kalamazoo OF
Hawaii and Mondell Of Wyoming. Not
one Of the members seen expressed
outright disapproval Of the reform
program.
It is probably too much to say that
the congressional committee is COM
posed Of natural progressives. The fact
Is that the control OF the committee
rests entirely with those formerly affil-
lated with the reigning oligarchy OF
the republican party. But events OF
the last year or so have given them a
jolt. They have learned that the coun-
try is progressive and that 1t means
business. They are beginning to dis
Germ that only by responding to the
demands for reform can the third party
movement be headed of and the re-
publican party restored to power.
Wickersham With Progrsssives.
II further proof Of the necessity OF
reform were needed, It has been amply
furnished by the Jolt which Delegate
wickersham Of Alaska has admin
tstered. Mr.. wickersham always used
to be q republican. The republicans
counted on him and made him q mem
Der Of the new congressional commits
tee. wickershaw promptly wrote to the
committee that he counted himself
third party progressive, that he was
entirely outside the republican party,
and that, consequently, with propriety
he neither could nor would accept
place on the congressional committee
Thus insurgency appeared in the COM
mittee itself-a final shot driving nome
the necessity for reform.
OF course the south will try to side
track the reform program. Its atti-
tude is reflected in the answers made
by Mr.. Austin Of Tennessee to the
questions propounded. He declared
that It was not for the congressional
committee to decide whether southern
representation should be reduced. Con-
sequently. he made no statement as to
his own views on that issue.
A little later the congressional COM
117;t4ea as now constituted will choose
a member for each OF the southern
states having no republican repre-
sentative in congress. The attitude OF
these southerners thus chosen will help
to determine the conclusions OF the
congressional committee as whole.
Como southernsrs For Reform.
CONGRESSMAN Cramton has been en-
couraged to believe that there 10 senti-
ment in the south In favor Of curtail-
ing southern representation. This
sentiment, as he Is informed, exists
among the substantial republicans who
have not aspired to political offices. It
remains to be seen whether the con-
gressional committee. dominated by
the standpat element, will back itself
with the office holding element and
against reform.