Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-12
PR0(R[SS|vES ASK
FOR Reorganization
CONFERENCE OF REPUBLICAN
LEADERS IN CHICAGO DE.
MANps CONVENTION.
REQUEST TO BE SENT TO
NATIONAL COMMITTEES
cummias Announces That Plans Do
Not Call for Coalition of Bull
moesers But That All Who Desire
May Return to Republican Fold
Statement Issued.


May Return to Republican Fold
Statement issued.
Chicago. May 12.-First steps toward
reuniting the republican party" were
taken at a conference of republican
| United States senators and other lead
! ers Of the party held here today. The
conference decided to call upon the re-
meetings scheduled for May "a, at
Washington, to issue a call for a ma
! tional convention this year.
To reorganize the party along pro-
5ressive lines Senator Albert B. Cum
| Minis. Of Iowa: Senator William w.
Borah, Of Idaho; and former Governor
Herbert s. Hadley, Of Missouri, with
ether leaders at the conference agreed
that the proposed convention shall
change the basis of representation at
future conventions and make other
radical changes SO that the party shall
stand for Constructive and progressive
activities in the constructive govern
ment."
Does the plan to change the organi-
zation of the party mean to ask that
| those who joined the progressive party
are to be asked TO come back?" Sena-
| tor Cummins was asked.
1T means just as have said before
that the convention would be sort
Of Lords supper and all those who
believed might partake," replied Sena-
tor Cummins.
The statesmen who represent the
progressive wing of the party was
strengthened today by the arrival Of
former Governor Hadley Of Missouri.
while Senator Works. of California,
telegraphed that he hoped to reach the
| city in time to attend the afternoon
session.
Other politicians from several CEN
tral states swelled the attendance to
more than fifty.
Why eorah Opposed.
| Senator Borah. Of Idaho. was at first
| opposed to calling republican nation
al conference, and his stand on this
| question yesterday was the beginning
Of a lengthy discussion. He has as
| serted that it would be useless to re-
organize the party from the top down
as any meeting at this time would be
controlled by the same men who DOM
| mated the convention last June. The
senator has fought the general con-
| ference idea continuously since his ar
rival and will continue to do SO today
but is without much hope that his
| ideas will prevail.
He was the center of discussion a
second time yesterday when he ad-
vanced a plan of direct election of Gel
egates to national conventions, stand
| ing practically alone on this issue.
Hostility to Committee.
| Hostility to the present nationa!
| committee was openly expressed by
several Of the progressives, and Sena-
tor Kenyon's statement that most Of
us would have no objection to most o.
the national committee resigning" is
backed up by Senator Lawrence Y.
Sherman. Of Illinois, who said:
1.-The feeling is that the national
committee should be less inflexible and
more amenable to public opinion"
Aims Of the Conference.
One Of the aims of the conference is
to ucrtail the powers of the existing
national committee, Interviews have
disclosed that the concensus Of opin-
ion favors following the rule adopted
by the progressive and dem cratic ma
tion conventions. providing that mem
bers of the national committee shall
assume their duties Immediately upon
election not awaiting until the disso-
luton of the committee at the close of
the national convention. Ry such an
arrangement the new committeeman
would handle the credentials of the
1916 convention.
The attendance of Senator Cronna.
of North Dakota, is said to have the
disapproval Of Senator LaFollette, who
is not in sympathy with the gathering.
The two have been strong political
allies and it is reported that the de-
termination OF Senator Cronna has
caused the dissentiOn.
Proposals for Accom- plishment.
"a national convention this year, OF
course, would not have to nominate
anybody" said Senator Cummins, land
it would not be dominated by the am
bitions Of any one. 1t simply would
get together in a spirit Of harmony and
devise plans for the best interest Of
the party. Among the things 1t Is pro-
posed to accomplish are:
TO change the basis Of representa-
ton according to republican strength,
and not according to the representa-
tions Of states in congress.