Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-04
MUST GET RID
 or ROOSEVELT INFLUENCE Branch of -Harftora Prosrsssives Dis- sruntIsd With Alsop and Smith


 There is a movement on foot in Hartfod, it Is reported. which, if it spreads to other parts of the state, may control the baiahee Of political power at coming elections. state as well as local
 This movement, although it is being fostered by the members of the pro- gressive party. is being pushed by prominent men in both the old parties and Is nont one that win be led by disgruntied and disappointed office seekers There is no certainty that the new organization win bs known as 2. party but may style itself a club.
 For long time it has been the feel ing among those who have belonged
 otthe progressive party here. a well as those who could not bring them selves to join that party. under the leadership it had, that the time was about ripe for the forming of a party or ra joining together of a body of voters that would work solely for high principles of public welfare in cleo tions.
 The progressives here have been disgruntld forr a ing time with what they called the self assumed leader ship" of Joseph Alsop, Herbert Knox Smith and others, and when they came to a full realization Of the smallness of the vote of the party at the last election they felt that something must be done if the principles which they advocated were to be furthered with any chance of success.
 These loyalists. as they are calling themselves, got together and the first thing that they decided must be done to clear the atmosphere was to dumI the present leaders, as, as they ex- pressed it, do away with the infiu- ence of Theodore Roosevelt and al membmers of his family. This was g ] direct rap at Joseph Alsop of Avon fes .rs.. II
 onel Roosevelt and has been one oi the leadersr of the party in the state Herbert Knox Smith came under tn, ban as having been in the Roosevelt cabinet and closely allied with Roose welt in the forming of the progressive of pulling chestnuts out of the fire fol the Roosevelt family, and now wal the timme to quit. Thus marks, a, least as far as Hartford is concerned the passing of the Alsop-knox regime As these men have now planned i | the work of this new club or part, will be of the quietest kind. At pres I ent they have minimum strength O not less than 400, with a maximum | that may possibly reach 700 when tn, plan is openly announced to the pub
 lie. These votes are scattered through
 out the different wards in the cit!
 and they make enough to carry tn balance of power.
 There will be no dictation to an rarty as to who shall or shall not b put up as candidates for office. A the time approaches for the holdinl | of the caucuses or primaries the lead | CTS of the old line parties will b. | quietly approached and told that they desire the support of the ney
 club they must put up men who vii
 stand for clean politics and the con
 duct of the city government aleni I progressive and humanitarian lines | There will be no suggestion made a! 10 what particular man would be ac
 ceptaible. The nomination of candi l dates will not be declared.
 | When the nominations have beel made a committee will be appointei | in each ward and the candidates rec | ords gone over with a fine tooth comf 1 republican nominee meets with tn
 requirements the club stands for an
 the democrat does not, the former vii get the vote of the club. If, on tn | other hand. the democrat is acceptabl | and the. republican not, the democra | will be supported.
 | In case neither man is acceptabl the club will get together and put u | a candidate of their own. In case bot the republican and democratic norni nees meet with approval of the mem | bers of the club will vote for which
 ever candidate they may see fit
 | One of the main movers in the neI
 organization is a reI pbhcan who ha | long been prominent 4n state as wel as local politics, and his entering int the movement will tend to make it | state wide one, as he has no axes t l grind and is not looking to furthe his own ends. Those that are asso
 ciated with him aim first to make tn
 movement a strong local one, and there is sufficient encouragement hel
 in asstate wide movement. Their hrs aim, however, is to make, as they ex 1 press it, 'Hartford clean" clean 8 | to its government, which must b along humanitarian lines.