The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-01-02
PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES IN
NEARLY EVERY CONGRESS
SIGNAL DISTRICT.
DECIDED AT BIG CONFERENCE
Many Republican Members View the
Prospect With Alarm, While the
Democrats Naturally Are High
Iy Pleased With IL.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

!
| publicans In congress are known to
be deeply interested In the plans of
the Progressive party for the next
congressional campaign. 1t is definite
ly known that the party leaders in
tend to nominate candidates for con-
gress in every district in the country
except probably In some few districts
In the southern states where the Pro
gressives think 1t would be hopeless
to nominate anyone even with a view
Of giving their party a foothold from
which to advance in the future.
Several Progressive representatives
In congress and members of the par
tvs congressional and national com
mfttees have just finished one of the
most important conferences which the
party has held since the campaign of
1912 was brought to a close. 1t can
be said truthfully that the congress
sional Campaign of 1914 Is on. The
Democrats and Republicans here. and
especially the Republicans, are keen
ly interested in the development of
the Progressives' intentions and cam
paign methods.
The Progressive leaders at their
New York meeting, which was attend
ed by many party men from this city,
made an analysis of the returns from
all the congressional districts in the
1912 election. On their return to
Washington the Progressives who
took part in the conference said the
regret of the party was that it did
not put more candidates in the con-
gressional field 10 months ago. Our
study of results" they said, Showed
that instead of 20 members OF the
present house Of representatives we
would have double that number IL
candidates had been nominated In dis
tr1cts which we thought were hope
less, but which upon a study of the
returns we now know might have
been carried"
Worries Many Republicans.
Republicans in Washington. of
course, are ready to deny the Pro-
gressive claim that they could have
carried number of congressional dis
tricts that they did not carry. but it
is evident that the Republican repre-
sentatives In congress from a good
many districts are worried over the
prospect of having Progressive oppo-
nents In their districts next fail
from personal point of view Repub-
iican members of congress, represen-
tatiVes and senators too, have a deem
er interest in the results OF the PRO-
gress1ve conference than they have in
the matter of calling an extraordinary
convention Of the old party.
Ihere Is a strong hope apparent
among Republicans, which it is need.
less to say is not shared by the Demo-
Gratis, that something will happen be-
tween now and next fall to get tbe
Republicans and the Progressiyes to-
gether SO that only one candidate win
pc In the field in each congressional
district against the standard bearer Of
democracy. The Progressives still in
slst, however. that amalgamation ia
impossible and that they will have a
candidate In every district and that
IN the next congress the Progressives
VIII be represented not by a smalI
minority OF 20 members, but by twice
that number.
Inc Democrats, of course. look nm
the intention of the Progressiyes with
open countenances OF joy. Meantime
the progressive-Repu and the
conservative Republicans will 90 on
with their efforts to induce the PRO.
gressfves to forego their intention ana
y IS understood that various kinds of
propositions will be made to them Of
q progressive nature in order to .4n-
duce them to be good"
Army Policy Defined.
Secretary of War Garrison IN hi.
annual report to the president of the
United States. which was submittad
also to congress, said: "The army i
not a luxury-it is public necessity
A nation that is opuient. enternrisin.
and unarmed as OF old. stilI invites
gression. II not disaster"
In this expression Of the war denort
ments official will be found the "a.
ministration's attitude toward ~. -
my OF the United States. There reara
some OF the peace propagandists wbo
enougnt that with the incoming OF .
!. administration steps would
~ taken TO reduce the regular fight
lng FORCES OF the government on Land
ana on sea. The recommendations ~
tue secretary of war and those of az
secretary of the navy make II annaa.
lnat the policy of the present admin.
l',, toward the twin services
min De very much like that of its Re-
predecessors. - ~
No Decrease at Present.
There are thousands 81 noon,
ne United States who are praving fon
me day to come when peace area aor
~ nations of the world will he &c
surea. The fiat Statement Is m. a.
,ra me good people of the country
are praying for this condition hooa..