Evening times-Republican., 1913-12-31
iknANcES DIRECTED eY NATION.
Al COMMITTEE MEET PRES
ENr CONDITIONS.
ONLY DISAPPOINTMENT IN
FAILURE TO CALL CONVENTION
Predicts Bright Future For Party and
Success at Polls-Formation Of Third
Party Under Progressive Leadership
Deemed Unfortunate Address Be-
fore Grant Club Heard by 800.

Des Moines, Dec. s1.-Speaking be-
fore 800 Iowa republican leaders at the
Grant Club banquet last night, SEN
ator A. B. Cummins said he was dis
appointed at the failure OF the party S
national committee to call a special
convention for reorganization, but de-
clared the reforms adopted by the COM
mittee were substantially what he has
sought He expressed confidence in
the future success OF the republican
party.
Disappointed as am that the con-
vention was not called" said Senator
Cummirs. 81 accept the outcome as a
fair fulallment of the demand for re-
organization. There is, of course. no
doubt of the ratification Of the pro-
posal by a sufficient number OF states,
and 1t may be taken for granted that
when the next national convention
meets in 1915 1t will be formed upon
the new basis. The delegates selected
by the various states under primary
laws will enter the convention free
from the supervisory authority hereto
fore exercised by the committee or the
convention"
OF the leaders OF the progressive
party and of his own position in poll
tics. he said:
These are honest men, thoroughly
attached to the highest ideals OF gov
ernment. With them I have stood
shoulder to shoulder in the VITAL
struggles Of the last decade. We may
sometimes have been wrong, but in
the meantime tha. infallible acid test
of the truth has demonstrated that we
were right. differ from them now in
II
them think they can render better ser
vice TO their fellow men by organizing
a new party. In this conclusion ] can
not concur.
10 Progressive Republican.
IT have been known as a progressive
republican, and I am speaking from
that standpoint. believe that the
principles I have endeavored to main
tain are the principles held by an over
whelming majority OF the republican
party, and I know that the men VINO
constitute its strength of mind and
spirit are devotedly attached to right
eousness in government
AS have more than once said.
nroeressfvism in public and political
affairs Is not a program-t Is an atu-
tude; It IS frame Of mind; It IS con-
ditiou Of spirit
PREDICTS 6DQUS VtuEes
In concluding his address. senator
Cummins said: There VIII always oe
in every country and In every party
men who want to go too fast in the
new ordinances that society must pro-
claim. There will always be men VINO
insist on going too slow, or not moving
at all. The men who insist upon sweep
ing ahead without reflection, stirred
simply by the wrongs Of humanity.
must be at times restrained; the men
who lag behind, and who feel that In
every movement there is danger must
be carried on; but the great body Oh
society must march steadily. cour-
ageously into the future. Just where
over-radicalism ends and true pro-
gressivism begins no human being can
tell; but the earnest moving element IN
every party, in every organization. anu
in government must preponderate or
decadence. disaster and destruction
will speedily ensue.
When I look ahead and see the
things that are yet to be done there is
a sense Of despair but when 1 look
back and see the things that have been
done I am filed with announcement
and confidence. I ask those who con-
denim the republican party to survey
the last decade. What has been done
for the betterment of humanity in the
nation, and in the states as well, fills
me with the most exalted hope for the
future. These modern problems with
which we are struggling have mainly
arisen within the last fifteen or twen-
ty years, and to meet them we have in
that time revolutionized our laws. Now
and then we have taken backward
step. or refused to take a forward step,
ot NP GO 10 n
the last ten years has been to meet
and answer some cry Of suffering hu-
manity. The progressive has moved
on, which Is gratifying. but it must no,
be forgotten that the conservative has
moved on as we'll, and II you will bear
with me want to recite some of the
evidences Of progress in the party ano
II the government as well.
While the republican party is now
suffering the consequences OF its ex-
treme and overwhelming defeat, te
me there has never been a day in its
career so bright with hope as the day
just closed. When Il returns to power
os confidently believe it will in the
near future, 1t can not be otherwise
than true to the mission it was born II
fulfill. Now and then it may linge1
along the road, because the voter!
thetic Now and then 1t will make {
mistake. because it's leaders are fals'
to the trusts which they have under
taken to execute; but SO long as th
great body Of ITS membership is aliv'
to the duties and responsibilities o
American citizenship, SO long it vii
give the people Of the United States tn
most progressive, the most just, tn
most helpful government of whicl
mankind Is capable.
''The substance Of the reforms fo
which the new party stands will, II
my judgment, be reached thru the re
q publican party more certainly. NOR
zs quickly than they can be attaine'
thru any other organization. censur
no man because he chooses to work II
the field Of the another party, for ever,
man should take that course which II
his conscientious Judgment will enabl
him to render the greatest service t
his fellowmen. As for myself, I shal
continue day after day to do thos
things, and say those things whicl
seem 90 me to be right. Party diner
ences cover but q few OF the question
which afise in . legislative body. an
there ought to be entire independence
Ss9s ssE