The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-25
To
ACT DEFINITELY
TO HOLD CONFERENCE
AND OUTLINE PLAN
Will Discuss Policies and Not
Personalities Sentiment
Favors Such a Move.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Agitation
for conference Of House Republicans
to outline definite plan of construc-
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 I'M
mediately seek to have a conference
called for the purpose of formulating
policies for the future. He made 1t
clear that his effort TO obtain con-
ference should be entirely disassocl'
ated from his opposition to Mr.. Mann,
which, he says, is based solely on his
conviction that Mr.. Mann stands Tor
"Prussia and Prussianism" in inter
national affairs Until Mann indorseu
President Wilson's recent peace mes
sage, Gardner said, he favored hlm'
! Il shall endeavor to have confer,
ence called to formulate policies ana
discuss them rather than personau'
ties said the Massachusetts, represen-
tatiYe. 81 am tired 10 death OF walt
ing for lot of big-wigs in the RepuD-
! lican party TO prepare platform ioF
, us that means nothing. The RepuOil'
can party more nearly represents tne
i people than any other, and IL Is hisn
/ time that we were planning LOT ulsins
the adoption OF many Progressare
a. ideas which already have been lncoI
porated into laws in other countries.
Representative Lenroot eTlnced keen
! interest in the conference proposal
and said he favored similar plan.
Sentiment is General.
i There is a very general sentiment ..ent
lon the Republican side: ne ,ha saia; f,tuUe iU
action of the party representatives. III
The house. think that We should not
jbe content with merely opposing
Democratic proposals in the presenl
congress. If we do not favor theh'
we should state our reasons and oHer
! substitutes which we believe to pc
better. | should like 10 see the Repuo-
tlicans adopt such 4 plan Tor the re-
:mainder of the short term Of congress
and outline general program or leg
lislation for the next session.
! Representative Lenroot declined TO
! discuss the speakership situation as
lhe constantly has done since his
friends began urging him to get into
the race openly.
Coincident with the return of Mr..
Gardner it became known that he re.
Gently conferred with Colonel Roose-
welt on the house situation. Other
than saying that a conference had
been held, however, MI. Gardner de-
! clined TO discuss the meeting. Rep
resentative Schall of Minnesota. one
Of the two Progressives elected to the
next house, also Is in receipt Of an in
! In political circles the colonel's activ-
! he intends 10 take more than a pass
ing interest in the organization of the
house. Some observers see in the
present agitation for changes in the
conduct Of the Republican work in the
house, d part Of Il general move of pro-
gressingly inclined Republicans to
command a hearing in the 1920 CAM
| paign work.
Representative Gardner's announce
ment Of his intention 10 agitate for a
conference met a cordial response
among many Of the rank and file
! Republicans who are anxious to pre-
vent the present ranking minority
members Of several committees who
are classified as irreconciliable stand
patters from getting chairmanShipS
! unless they make declarations Of pro-
greSsiVe principles.