The sun., 1916-12-24
NEW MOVE TO GUST
WILLIAM R. WILCOX
Representative Hill Calls for
Reorganization Of Ma
tional Committee.
SOME ACTION LIKELY
Name Of John T. King Men,
toned for G. O. P.
Chairman.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Republicans
In Congress are expecting some impor-
taak move on the Republican national
c~hessboard soon Representative Hill
Of Connecticut Is put to-day for q re-
organisation OF tho National Committee.
IN fact q merger Of the National Com
msttee which managed the last cam
pahgn and the Congressional Committee
preslded over by Representative Woods.
Iowa.
MIR. 1Iill does not conceal his desire b
retire William X. WILCOX from the read
Of the organization and has Suggestsd
that John T. King Of Connecticut. mem
Der Of the Republican National Com
mittee, be chosen chairman. With Repre-
sentative Hills plan Is lis one to retire
Chairman Woods of the Congressional
Committee. The suggestion created
much interest to-day.
Naturally the friends Of Representa-
tive Woods see q flaw in the plan OF
Aar. Hill. They believe Woods made .
sued record In the last campaign and
that the Republican representation IN
the House. IN face Of general Repub-
lican disaster for tho national ticket.
entities him to something moro grateful
than retirement.
Senator Harding suggested q few dAys
ago that II might be a good plan II TIE
Republican National Committee. of
which Mr.. WILCOX rs head. should retire
temporarily and give the Congressional
Committee the centre Of the stage for .
time.
willcox 10 Unpspular.
That there Is b be a move soon TO
0epose Mr.. WILCOX from tho chairman
snip OF the Republican National Com
mtttee was disclosed to-day in talks with
leading Republicans in Congress. There
has been no call for a meeting for
thai purpose n It Il not admitted
for a moment hat Mr.. Wulcox's friends
will stand idly by and permit him to be
humiliated. But the feeling Tint r
mismanaged the campaign seems 70 he
quite general in Congress and ne may
expect a fight to hold on. The cJuise
% be pursued would be 20 have tho
committee meet n declare the Once
vacant and elect . successor.
The Progressive wing of the party 10
getting active and Is planning a meet
INF In the holiday recess to take steps
Tor a national conference later. Repre-
sentative-elect Medill Mccormick. Chi
cago: Chester II. Rowell and other Pro-
gressives have been quietly feeling out
the sentiment here in an effort to get
an informal conference to plan a ma
tional conference Of party leaders. OF
course. the object In getting Chairman
Wilcox out and some other man In ID
TO begin a nationwide reorganization OF
h party In An effort 70 win the House
and Senate in 1918.
The Republicans In Congress under
stand that tho Democrats will not be
idle. They have already made plans for
carrying on active propaganda work for
the next two q They are looking
for a high class head for their publicity
and organization work. II was wills
pered about here recently that the place
would carry q salary Of perhaps 81. 900
year.
Bourne OrGaniaatioa e Go.
The Republicans ave the Bourne or
eanizatiOn in the Real Estate Trus,
building in Washington. with George
u. Moses In charge. Moses In q candi.
date for Senator to succeed Senator
Hollis and Is not expected to remain
actively In the work Of the Bourne com.
mittee for h next two years. TIT
Bourne committee 10 not popular with
all elements OF the Republican part,
n will hardly be selected as the party
mouthpiece. Tho Progressives have
never had anything In common with the
organization and the reactionary ele.
ment. 10 called. Is in doubt as to the
efficacy OF this bureau.
Apparently II has been a personally
conducted organization in which ex'
Senators Bourne and Hemenway wer,
the Drime movers. and there was rom,
plaint in the last campaign for nomina'
zion for President tina II was used I.
promote the interests Of a certain can
didate to the exclusion OF others.
The Bourne Bureau has collected be
tween $1,000 900 and $4,000 and hai
permanent subscriptions covering a pc
riod of years. One OF the largest con
tributors to Its work Is Samuel Winslov
OF Massachusetts,. There has been NJ
leading Progressive identified with 1t.
The opinion In that whatever action 4
taken looking to the rejuvenation OF tn,
Republican party and to bring back IN,
Progressive element the Bourne Burea,
will not be employed. II will continu,
10 be a independent bureau conducte,
by a coterie OF conservative Republican.
~ in the past
Mr.. HIS Statement.
Representative Hills statement on tn
Future of the party and the necessity O
reorganization says In part:
II I'm satisfied hat the dual organi
tat'on OF national inc Congressiona
committees is either a mistake or els
much more harmonious relations between
the two are necessary. The best conclu
6ions that l can reach In regard to tn
campaign are that the great Democrat
effort was made to secure the reelectio