Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-25
GARDNER RETURNS
TO START ACTION
Says He's Tired Of Big Wigs
Who Frame Platforms
Which Mean Nothing.
HAS TALK WITH TEDDY
Rank and File Republicans
Fall Into Line to Bring
About Fighting Force.

WASHINGTON. Dec 24-Agitation
FOR conference OF house Republicans
To outline a definite plan of cunstruc-
tive action during this and the next
congress to replace the present policy
OF merely opposing Democratic pro-
posals began today to take definite
form
Upon his return from Cincinnati
where he announced his opposition to
Republican Leader Mann for speaker
of the next house and his support OF
Representative Lenroot Of Wisconsin
for the place. Representative Gardner
OF Massachusetts said he would seek
Immediately TO have conference
called for the purpose of formulating
policies FER the future" He made It
clear that his effort to obtain a con-
ference should be entirely disassociat-
ed from his opposition to Mr.. Mann,
which. he says. is based solely on ms
conviction that Mr.. Mann stands for
Prussia and prussianism" in inter
national affairs. Until Mann md prsed
President Wilson'S recent peace mes
sage. Gardner said. he favored him.
Tired of big WIGS
81 shall endeavor to have "A confer
cnce called TO discuss policies rather
than personalities. said the Massa
'uuStilN representative ! am llItN
to death of waiting for a lot or big
wigs in the Republican party to pre-
pare a platform for us that means
nothing The Republican party more
Lcarly represents the people than any
other and u is high time that we were
planning for urging the adoption OF
many progressive ideas which already
have been incorporated into laws IN
ether countries
Representative Lenroot evidenced
Keen interest I'm the conference pro-
rosal and said he favored Il similar
plan.
Sentiments l. General.
There Is very general sentiment
on the Republican side" he said, ''for
conference to discuss the future ac-
tion of the party representatives, m
the house. ] think that we should not
hc content with merely opposing Dem
ocratic proposals in the present con
gress. II we do not favor them We
should state orr reasons and offel
substitutes which We believe to be bet
ter. | should like to see the Republi-
cans adopt such n plan for the re-
mainder of the short term Of congress
and outline general program of leg
islation for the next session.
Has Roosevelt Views.
Coincideut with the return Of Mr.
Gardner 1t became known that he re-
Gently conferred with Colonel RoOse
Welt on the house situation. Other
than saving that Il conference haC
been he'd. Mr.. Gardner declined e
discuss the meeting. Representative
Schall Of Minnesota, on" of The two
Frogressivcs elected to the next house
also Is in receipt of an invitation =
call on Colonel Roosevelt In politico
circles the colonel's activity is inter
prcted as indicating that he intends e
take more than a passing interest II
the organization of the house Som'
observers see in the present Agitation
for changes In the conduct of the Re
publican work in the house, a par
OF a general move of ProgressiNly-in
Clined Republicans to command
hearing in the 1920 campaign work.
Representative Gardner's announce
mcnt of his intention to agitate for
conference met "a cordial respons'
among many OF the rank and fill
Republicans who are anxious to pre-
vent the present ranking minorlt.
members of several committees wh'
are classified as irreconciliable stand
patters from getting chairmanship
unless they make declarations of Pro
gressiVe principles