Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-12
Republican National Commit
tee to Be Asked to Issue
Call for This Year.
ACTION DECIDED UPON
AT CHICAGO MEETING
Conference of United States Sena-
tors and Others Seeks to
Reunlte G. O. P.

chicago III. May I2.-First steps to-
ward 'reuniting the republican party
were taken at a conference of republican
Tinted States Senators and other leaders
Of the party here today. The conference
decided To ask the republican national
committee at its meeting May II at Wash
ington to Issue call for national con-
Vention this year.
To reorganiz.- the party along progress
sive lines Senator Albert j.. 'Cummins
OF Iowa Senator William l.. Borah of
Idaho and former Gov III. $. Hadley, to-
gether with the other leaders at the con-
ference. agreed that the proposed con-
vention shall change the basis of repre-
sentation in future conventions and make
other radical changes so that the party
shall stand ."for constructive and pro-
gressive activities in the affairs of gov
eTnment.
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
1t means. just as l have said before
that the convention would be sort ol
Lords supper and all those who believed
might partake." replied Senator Cummins
After the conference. which adjourned
after being in session for two days, the
following statement was given out.
Ask for National Convention.
"At an informal conference of repub-
licans from eleven states, held at Chi
eago. May L., 1912. il was voted that ii
be submitted to the national republican
committee as the opinion of those present
that a national convention of the party
should be held this year. at as early
date as may be practicable. for the pur-
pose of considering the eApediency OF
changing the basis of representation IN
future conventions that the delegates
shall proportionately represent rePup-
Team voters and not general population.
10 the end that the will of the members
OF tile party may be more accurately ue-
tcrnined: also for the purpose OF chang
ing the rules relating TO delegates and
members of the national committee, SO
thar the primary election laws of the
various states shall be recognized and
have full force. and also for the purpose
of making such other changes in the
methods Of conducting national conven-
lions and campaigns shall cOnduce to
giving the utmost possible effect TO the
principles and policies of the party.
1T was further the opinion that such
d convention might properly and use
fully take any other action desirable
to reDnite the party and TO give as
surance that IL stands for constructive
and progressive activities in the at
fairs Of government to the end that the
common welfare may be advanced
1T was the unanimous belief of those
present that the changes suggested
should be made forthwith and that the
national committee be urged to take
such steps to such an end
Committee Drew Up Statement.
A committee composed OF Robert
Luce. former lieutenant governor of
Massachusetts: Senator Borah Senator
Kenyon of Iowa. w. W. James. state
senator of Michigan. and James "A.
Troutman. state senator of Kansas.
was appointed TO draw up statement
expressing the sentiment of the con
ference This committee drew up the
foregoing and 1T was adopted. That
concluded the conference. Senator
Borah and Mr.. Hadley both left imEe
dately. each saying he had To catch
train.
Senator Borah said that while at first
he had been somewhat skeptical about
the benefits to be derived from national
convention this year. he finally conclud-
ed to join in the unanimous belief that
such convention should be held. Mr..
Hadiey. who did not participate in the
conference yesterday but came in today
iuSt as ii Was tnslinS. said he was in
,ntiTe sympathy with The movement.
Much interest centered about the sig
n.fcauce Of including i'll the statement
In phrase about 'reuniting the party.
senator cummins explained that it meant
talk had been indulged i'll about invit-
tl.g- members of the progressive party to
return ~ the republican ranks.
Others who participated in thu confer
ence were United States Senators \. j.
Gronna Of North Dakota. 4. /. Crawford
Of south Dakota and l.. y. Sherman OF
Ilninois. and Representatives j. W. Good
,f Iowa. Gilbert y. Haugen of Iowa.
Fveris y. Hayes of California and l.. G..
CHAMPION Of Michigan and sydney An
derson al Minnesota.
Progressivism in Ranks to Stay
We recognized at the meeting that pro-
gressivism il the republican ranks has
come TO stay. said Representative Good
We felt that II must be firmly and en-
phaticalIy embodied in republican prin-
cii,leS. III was brought out that elections
lield since last fall show that the pro-
gressive party merely was Il temporary
protest against the methods OF the re-
publican national convention and that as
soon a the republican party reorganizes
itself along progressive lines the third
party VIII cease to exist.
A. chairman of the conference Senator
Sherman authorized to appoint a
committee OF five members vino with the.
statement given out today as "A basis are
TO draft address To the public and To
the members of the national committee
Senator Sherman said he would leaV. for
Washington today and would proba bly,