South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-11-17

A Washington special dispatch to
the Chicago Herald, and published
Monday in that paper, says:
The Dispatch.
Progressive party leaders are con-
sidering a merger into the democratic
ranks TO join progressive democrats
in a fight against reactiOnaries.
Overtures looking toward such an
smalgamation have been made 60
prominent progressives during the
last week by men who are among the
closest advisers OF Pres't Wilson.
The proposal involves "A union of
progressive elements behind the can
didacy Of Pres't Wilson for reelection
in 1915 and also the capture of the
control Of the democratic party or
CARNATIONS in the various states.
Moose To Report Dec. ..
Conferences which have been held
in washington and New York since
the recent election have caused the
progressives 10 give the matter serl-
Gus consideration.
Negotiations will be continued and
developments will lie reported 10 a
meeting OF the progressive national
executive committee in Chicago Dec.
2.
Available returns show that about
100000 votes were cast for progress
sive party candidates at the election
of Nov. g. The progressives say their
vote in many large states was sufh-
ciently great to constitute a balance
of power which will determine the
reelection Of Pres't Wilson or the
election of a republican president IN
1915.
Heretofore il has been assumed
that the progressives would go back
to the republican party in case they
were unable To keep the third party
in the field.
G.. O. II. Breach Permanent.
Some of the leaders, il now devel-
ops. are determined never 10 go back
TO the republican ranks, regardless Of
the fate Of the progressive party. This
sentiment has been reiterated since
the recent election when the progress
sives finished in third place in most
of the states
Clifford Pinchot. defeated progress
sive nominee for United States sena-
tor against Boies Penrose in Penn
sylvania, is one of those who says he
is through forever with the repub-
lican party.
Victor Murdoch, progressive sena-
tOrial nominee in Kansas and leader
OF the new party in congress, says he
would become a prohibitionist before
he would return TO the republican
fold.
Many Are Anti Republican.
Gov Hiram w. Johnson Of Califor-
MIA, the progressive vice presidential
nominee in 1912; Albert j. Beveridge'
the senatorial nominee in Indiana this
fall; Judge Ben Lindsey and p. p.
Costigan Of Colorado and William
Finn of Pennsylvania are others who
are understood TO be irreconciliably
anti-republican
Other progressive leaders, such as
Raymond Robins who was the
party's senatorial nominee in Illinois,
formerly were in the democratic
party, having worked with William
Jennings Bryan for the triumph OF
progressive principles until they came
10 the conclusion that the party was
hopelessly reactionary.
These men probably would be glad
TO go back 10 the democratic party II
the progressive element in that party
were TO be strengthened by the addi-
ton Of progressive former repub-
licans.
Would Reunite Old Leaders.
An amalgamation OF progressives
and democrats would mean a reunion
OF many OF the original progressive
republican group which organized the
opposition 10 the Taft administration
around Sen. Ia Toilette. Louis Bran
deis of Massachusetts, Charles r.
Crane Of Illinois and Rudolph Spreck-
els OF California became supporters Of
Woodrow Wilson when the la Toilette
presidential candidacy was dropped,
while others including Medill McCor-
mick and Charles +. Merriam OF llh-
nois, Francis !. Heney Of California,
Victor Murdoch and Clifford Pinchot
Joined the progressive party.
The former republicans. who now
are classed as Wilson democrats. are
understood 20 be aiding in the effort
TO amalgamate the progressives with
the progressive democrats.
Might Accept Wilson Views.
With respect 10 the divergent views
OF Pres. Wilson aad progressives on
political issues many OF the Roosevelt
supporters say they view the presi-
dents trust program almost as favor
ably as they Go their own They Go
not like the Underwood tariff, but they
Like the Paype-Aldrich tariff even less.
They are opposed 20 the Philippine