Evening star., 1915-12-12
PR0GRESSVESBACK
Unfold OF c. 0.P.
Six Bull Moose Representa-
tives Have No Party
Organization.
NONE CAST VOTE AGAINST
MANN FOR PARTY LEADER
Take Committee Assignments From
Him-Lindbergh Of Minnesota Is
Still Bucking, All Alone.

The progressive party is no longer
| separate political organization In either
| house of Congress.
The third party, as an entity, has
gone glimnering from the halls of the
national Capitol. Processes of amalga-
nation are now in progress. Predic-
tion Is freely made on the republican
side that, by the time the election of
1916 comes around. regulars and pro-
gressives in Congress will be found
fighting shoulder to shoulder under
the same banners.
Also, the democrats are free to admit
their fear of this possibility. They
plan to do all in their power to split
the progressive element in the G. o. P.
from the more staid and conservative
crowd.
In the last Congress there were sew
enteen progressive members = bull
moosers-in the House. Senator Poin-
dexter. also, officially classified himself
as progressive, but he is now en-
rolled as a republican and will be
candidate for reelection as such.
In the last House, in the makeup
committee assignments, the progress
sives had representation the more
important committees and held fire.
quent public conferences. These were
| intended to be object lessons to the
democrats who persisted in holding
secret caucuses; but the odd part
OF 1T was that the news Of the secret"
caucuses would be printed in long and
ford detail, while the public con-
ferences of the progressives would go
almost unhonored and unsung in the
public print.
There are six progressives in the
present House, but as has been stated.
there is no party organization. These
progressives are Representatives Schall
fornia, Martin of Louisiana, a progress
sive from the south because of a pro-
| test against free sugar: Copley of IL
linois, and Stephens of California.
voted for the republican leader. Repre-
sentative Mann, for Speaker Their
action Is taken to indicate they will
side with the republicans in many in
stances in this Congress
Since arriving in Washington it has
been reported that Representative
Schall will run as candidate for re-
election as republican. In fact, it
will, sooner or later. align himself with
the House republican organization.
No Organization Contemplated.
The progressives have no intention
Of forming an organization of their
own for this Congress. Representa-
tive Mann framed their committee as
signments, and the six progressives
called on the republican leader to talk
committee assignments with him. Rep
resentative Martin, the Louisiana man,
is styled in the Congressional Direc.
tory as "progressive-protect
and is occupying a seat on the re-
pu blican side.
To Representative Lenroot of Wis
consin must be attributed a large
part of the credit or blame, according
to the viewpoint, for the disintegra-
tion of the third party as an inde-
pendent organization Of the House.
Representative Lenroot is a progress
sive republican OF most vigorous ten
denotes, and can be counted on at any
hour to fight anything on either side
which looks to him to be return to
reactionary principles. He is rampant
for liberality in rules and open dealing
in public lands, and Is looked upon as
one of the pioneers in the movement
that brought about the changes in the
republican policies.
Nevertheless. Lenroot refused to join
the progressive organization. He in
sisted that the progressives, all of
whom had been republicans, should
stick to the old party. He advocated
reforms from within; and that no
good would come by separation.
He brought many progressives into
line in the former House. His plans
have fructified in the present body.
G. o. P. Progressive Enough.
In this connection it should be re-
membered that Representative Mann,
republican leader, said on more than
one occasion that the republican party
would be progressive enough for any
sensible citizen. And, further. Rep
resentative Mann, as leader, has most
diplomatically and forcefully handled
the situation, so that the young colts
who wanted to kick the fence down
are now running to him Tor advice SO
to speak.
Not a progressive voted for Mann two
years ago when the speakership was
up. Not one voted against him this year
Two supported him: the others answered
present
For several years republicans from Min
nesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas
were in the insurgent movements against
the party leadership in the House. With
the exception of one Minnesota man, the
northwestern states are lined up with
Uncle Joe Cannon in the republican or
ganization.
Representative Lindbergh Of Minnesota
is the one man who still is buclkins. At
present he is in a party OF his own MAX
ing. although officially he is reported as
a republican He is the only man thus
designated who did not vote for Repre-
sentative Mann for Speaker, answering
present instead.
Mr.. Cannon is delighted. When his at
tention was called to the harmony which
so far spreads over the House repub- |
licans he exclaimed:
while the lamp holds out to burn, the |
vilest sinner may return. We shall well |
come them with open arms. The wander
ers have come home. That means we |
shall be victorious in the 1915 campaign" " |
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