Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1916-02-03
PROGRESSIVE IDEALS
MUST PREVAIL
To Reunite Republican Party,
Declare Progressive Leaders.

Washington, Jan. 27.-Progres-
sive Republicans Of the senate, to-
gether with number of their COL
leagues in the house, discussed their
political plans at private dinner.
The leaders who are insisting that
progressive principles must prevail
n the next Republican convention, If
there is to be any hope Of political
success, are Senators Borah of Idaho,
Cummins and Kenyon of Iowa, La
Toilette of Wisconsin, Clapp of Min
nesota, Gronna Of North Dakota,
Sterling Of South Dakota, Norris of
| Nebraska, Poindexter and Jones of
Washington and Works of California.
Every one of these senators stated
in response to the direct question
that the purpose of their conferences
was not to revive the old Progressive
party that split off from the regular
organization four years ago, but to
bring about such a condition that
united front could be presented to
the common enemy in the coming
campaign. While the senators are
not disposed to talk now for publ
cation, they said it is their purpose
to hold conferences with the leaders
of the so-called regular organization
and the so-called conservatives, and
| endeavOr to arrange in advance OF
the Chicago convention a declaration
Of principles that could be supported
by all Republicans.
Platform an Important Thing.
This" said one of the most infiu-
entail Of the progressive group, lis
of more Importance to the cause of
Republicanism right now than the
candidacy of any particular man.
The right man can be found if the
platform is all right, and the chances
are that the Republican party will
profit from it's experiences Of the
past four years, and go into the CON-
ing fight with a determination and
the power to succeed.
Candidates Considered.
SO far as the progressive Repub-
licans of the Northwest and the mid
die West are concerned, former Sen
ator Root cannot be taken into con-
sideration. Under no circumstances
could he be accepted as in any way
progressive. Justice Hughes, might
be considered if there were reasons
to believe that he would he a candi-
date. Outside of the progressive
candidates-by which mean Borah,
Cummins or La Follette-there are
two men whose candidacy might be
favorably considered. They are Bur-
ton of Ohio and Weeks of Massachu
sets. The latter by reason of bust
ness affiliations is injured at the out
set, but has many friends in the
West.
Senator Burton, however. more
nearly than any other candidate will
be the second choice of many of the
progressive states. Although re-
ferred to generally as a conservative,
he has strong progressive tendencies
and would make an excellent COM
promise candidate, acceptable both in
the East and the West. This sub
ject of candidates has not yet been
taken up, but the former senator
from Ohio will figure to large ex-
tent in the progressive communi-
ties.'
1t had been understood that the
progressive candidates agreed at
their last conference and dinner not
to have two progressives running
against each other in any state. Sen
ator La Toilette, who was not at the
first dinner in person, was reported
| to be favorable to that plan. Yester-
day it was understood that Mr.. La
Toilette told some of his colleagues
included in the list named that no
one had any authority to make any
bargain of any kind on his behalf.
Unless La Toilette becomes party
to this plan, in several Of the north
western states the primary race
promises to be a free-for-all with a
splitting up of the progressive Re-
publican vote.