Evening star., 1915-08-05
BULL MOOSE FACE
PROBLEM OF PARTY
Counsel Divided as to Whether
Organization Shall Be
Maintained.
COL. ROOSEVELT'S STAND
PUZZLE TO FOLLOWERS
Theory Advanced That He Is Mark
ing Time and Awaiting
Developments.

There is great perturbation among
the progressives in all parts of the
country over their future political course
and whether they shall amalgamate
as party, with the republicans. Thou
sands will return individually to the
old party, but the issue of the moment
is the question of Ito be or not to be-
for the party organization.
In the west Hiram Johnson of Cali
fornia, Victor Murdoch of Kansas, Will
Allen White and others favor holding
up the party organization. In the east
counsels are divided. especially in New
York. Chauncey ]. Ham.n, the Erie
county progressive leader, favors go
ing into the republican party as pro-
gressives and reform the old organi-
zation. on the principle of the little
lump to leaven the whole loaf.
As Place of Refuge.
William H Childs, Kings county pro-
gressive leader, takes issue with that
policy and says: The progressives
should continue their party organiza-
tion as place to which all Independent
voters can rally in case candidates and
platforms put forward by the other
parties fail to receive their confidence.
Col Roosevelt. in the meantime, re-
that he will enroll" as progressive
and advises other progressives to do
likewise. His position is shared by
George w. Perkins. Col. Roosevelts S
declaration, in view of his recent ma
neuvers and private expressions, has
somewhat puzzled the politicians The
best explanation is that he is mark
ing time" while the pending fermenta-
tion is going on among the progress
sives and will act decisively at the
proper moment
Queer Story From Coast.
From California comes queer story.
1t is to the effect that the colonefs re-
cent visit there was mainly to stiffen
up Hiram Johnson, a rumor having
reached the east that Gov. johnson
was flirting with the democrats. with
view to taking the democratic nomina-
tion for the vice presidency and bring
ing his progressives into the demo-
cratic party.
That would not suit the colonePs
plans at all, as he is intent upon re-
uniting the republicans and defeating
assertion of loyalty to the progressiyes
could easily be accounted for as de-
sign to prevent a violent swing of some
OF his followers to the democrats. IL
he should desert, the whole organiza-
ton would go to pieces.
Promotion of the boom OF Justice
Charles E. Hughes for the presidential
nomination Is a part of the effort of
Erie county progressives to amalga-
mate with the republicans. 1t is said
by New York politicians that If the
reunion can be accomplished it is high
ly probable the returning progressives
could secure New York's support for a
movement to force the nomination of
Justice Hughes. His renunciation Of
the crown is not taken seriously by the
politicians. Col. Roosevelt is known to
be favorable to Justice Hughes as a
candidate.
Buffalo Meeting Tonight.
In Buffalo tonight the progressive
leaders will meet and thresh out their
troubles. Chauncey J. Hamlin's call
for the meeting suggested this advice:
Our progressive organization, COM
posed as it is of former republicans and
former democrats. urges all the pro-
gressives to join the republican party,
our organizat ton to retain its identity
and compactness, to wage the battle of
progressivism within the primaries and
councils of the republican party IN sup
port of such candidates and committee
men as stand for the principles in
which we progressives and So many re-
publicans believe"