Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-12
Republicans of Progress
i've Type Have Chicago
Conference.
DEMAND FOR REFORMS
National Committee Called Upon
to Arrange for National
Convention This Year.

Chicago. May 1.-THE first steps
toward "reuniting the republican par.
ty" were taken at a conference of re-
publican senators and other leaders of
the party here today. The confer
ence decided to call upon the republi-
can national committee at it's meet
ing scheduled for May 90 at Wash
ington to issue call for a national
convention this year to reorganize the
party ''along progressive lines.''
Senator Cummins, Senator Borah,
Ex-Governor Hadley and other leaders
agreed that the proposed convention
shall change the basis of representa-
ton in future conventions and make
other radical changes in order that
the party shall stand for constructive
progressive activities in the affairs of
government"
SORT OF LORDS SUPPER.
Does the suggestion to reunite the
party mean those who Joined the pro-
gressive party are to be asked to
come back?" Cummins was asked
II mean just as l said before, that
the convention should be a sort of
Lords supper, and all those who be-
lieve might partake,' replied the Iowa
| senator.
After the conference, which ad-
journed after being in session two
days, a statement was given out ex-
pressing the unanimous belief Of
those present that the changes sug-
gested should be made forthwith and
that the national committee be urged
to take such steps to such end"
NO INVITATION TALK.
The committee, composed of Sena-
tors Kenyon and Borah, State Sena-
tor James of Michigan, former Lieu
tenant Governor Lewie of Massachu-
sets, had been appointed to draw up
the statement expressing the senti-
ment of the conference.
Much interest centered about the
significance of the phrase, 'reuniting
the party" Cummins explained it
meant just what it said, but that no
lengthy talk had been indulged in
about inviting" members of the pro-
gressive party to return to the re-
publican ranks.
Others who participated in the con-
ference were Senators Gronna. Craw-
ford and Sherman, and Representa-
tives Good and Haugen of Iowa,
Hayes Of California, Champion of
Michigan, and Anderson of Minnesota.
SEE DEATH OF MOOSE.
eve recognized at the meeting that
progressivism in the republican ranks
has come to stay said Representa-
tive Good I'VE felt it must, be firmly
and emphatically embodied In the re-
publican principles. 1t was brought
out that the elections held since last
fall show that the progressive party
merely was a temporary protest
against the methods of the republican
national convention and that as soon
as the republican party would reor-
ganize itself along progressive lines,
the third party would cease to exist"
AS chairman of the conference, Sher-
man was authorized to appoint COM
mittee os five, who issued the state
ment given out today as a basis on
which they are to draft a message to
the public and members of the ma
tional committee Sherman will leave
for Washington today.
COALITION SOUGHT, SAYS HADLEY.
Former Governor Hadley of Mis-
souri, stated that coalition of the
republican party and the progressive
party is not only desired, but is being
sought" He explained this end was
being sought by the attempt to reform
the republican party so that consci-
entious progressives who left the
party could rejoin.