Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-27
THIRD PARTY MEMBERS
NOT TO GET RECRUITS
Progressive Republicans Say
1t Is Better to Support
Wilson Administration.

The little third party in the House of
Representatives. which for a few days
past has been floating the Roosevelt and
progressive banner. received a terrific
jolt last night when three good pro-
gressive republicans made public state
ments that they would have nothing to
do with the Roosevelt party in the House
and claiming that If anybody really
wanted to be progressive he would line
up and support the Wilson administra-
ton in all progressive policies. The three
republicans who made statements were
Kent of California. Lenroot of Wisconsin
and Anderson Of Minnesota.
The statement followed close upon the
interviews given out Tuesday night by
Representative Hinebaugh. who has been
hammering together the small third
party, which, at the last count was to
contain eighteen members. and which
has been publicly congratulated by
Theodore Roosevelt
No Good to Be Accomplished.
4 can see no good to be accomplished
House." said Mr.. Kent. President Will
son has brought assurance of his intent
to realize those progressive ideas which
mind our best service can be rendered
by aiding him and those with him
toward securing the legislation which we
desire and for which we have worked
in the past. 1t would seem obvious that
differing programs, although all pro-
gressive, would tend 10 impede each
other. Not until President Wilson shall
have shown willingness to abandon the
road in which he is travelling shall l
consider it my duty to do other than to
help him."
Representative Kent, although he is in
the Congressional Directory as a repub-
lican, calls himself an independent and is
generally considered a progressive. He
will show himself a republican, however
by voting for Representative Mann as
pared to be led by Mr.. Mann, but because
of Mr.. Mann's usefulness in the House
Representative Lenroot of Wisconsin
said that he positively would not vote for
Victor Murdoch for Speaker. according to
the program of the eighteen stalwart
Roosevelt progressives. He said he re-
garded it as unfortunate that the progress
sives in the House should be divided at
this time.
Called Upon to Aid Wilson.
LAS far as can now be foreseen." he
said, "progressives Of all political parties
will be called upon to assist President
Wilson in his progressive policy, and new
complications relating only to party poll
tics can only injure the progressive
cause
Mr.. Lenroot explained that he had been
elected upon a republican ticket and had
made use of the republican organization,
and that, no matter how progressive he
was. he did not intend to join the third
party in the House, and that to do SO
would be false pretenses 70 rthe folks
back home.
He continued:
IF the republican party shall not in
the near future reorganize itself and
make its leadership representative of the
rank and file there will be ample oppor-
tunity for progressive republicans to
make party affiliations in the next cam
paign.'
The statement of Representative An
derson of Minnesota was but a mere ac-
quiescence in all that Mr. Lenroot and
Mr.. Kent had said.
The significance Of these statements, it
is pointed out, is that they mark the be-
ginning of a stiff fight which will be
waged from now on against the so-called
progressive party of the House.