Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-12
DEMOCRATS IN PLOT
TO KIDNAP OR ADOPT
PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Leaders in st. Louis Expect Bull
Moose Leaders, Abandoned
by Roosevelt, to Lend
Support
PRESIDENT IMPLICATED
BY LOWELL MELLETT

ST LOUIS, June i2.-Onc of the greatest
kidnapping enterprises in history was dis
covered in ST. Louis today. The object OF
the effort is 4-year-old child-thc
Progressive party. Democratic organization
by Miss CahIll was the one worn
leaders are the would-bo kIdnappers,
| Events in Chicago and oyster Bay Sat
urdav have changed the color of this weeks
convention, and instead of being n per-
functory ratification meeting, 1t may turn
out to be n truly thrilling affair. Quiet
conferences among Democratic committee
men Sunday and Sunday night resulted in
determination on n new program.
Theodore Roosevclts refusal to run-re-
itcrated yesterday-inspired the kidnapping
plan It Is the opinion of Democratic COM
mtteemen that Roosevelt's action spells
the death Of the Progressive party
WILSON IMPLICATED.
The committeeman will bend every effort
toward gathering In the four million Pro-
gressivc voters. They have counseled with
Washington by wire in the brief time the
plan has been forming, and the White
House is said to be prepared to back the
effort.
Swift developments since Saturday may
have a marked bearing on the democratic
platform. although one of the men busiest
on the kidnapping scheme declared today
the platform on which Senator James and
President Wilson have been working prob
ably will serve the desired purpose.
Various leaders were evasive when asked
about 1t today. National Chairman Nc
Combs, said to he the actual originator.
tactly admitted he was working with others
to bring the scheme TO a head.
Somebody must adopt the child" some
body said, smiling, and added, "all four
million of It."
gresslve leaders were proposed, McCombs
refused to discuss the matter further. He
maintained the same attitude concerning
any steps that may have been taken by
him in this connection while In Chicago.
Others said however, that the fact Roose-
welt woId abandon the Progressive party
was not known in Chicago when McCOmbs
left there Friday and therefore alto
gether unlikely the Democratic chairman
had talked with Bull Moose leaders on the
subject.
PROGRESSIVES EXPECTED.
The definite admission was made by one
Democratic leader that certain Progressive
leaders were expected in St Louis In
few days. He would not admit, however.
that they had been invited.
Colonel Robert Ewing. Louisiana men,
Der of the National Committee, said:
WED Ike to have them all here. The
treatment received by the loyal Progressive
workers at Chicago constitutes one of the
crimes of American politics, in my opinion.
Take fellows like Victor Murdock, for eX-
ample, who were led out of the Republican
party by Roosevelt, only to be left high and
dry when Roosevelt found there was no
personal success in It for him. Murdocks
political career may he ruined. No one
ever questioned Murdocl's sincerity and it
has been abused shamefully.
Men like Murdoch and William Allen
White cannot support Justice Hughes.
White has declared since Justice Hughes
was nominated that Justice Hughes milk
and water statement of Amercanism'
wouldd prevent PrOgressives supporting
him"