The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-26
Republicans Tired of Wait
ing for Big Wigs in
the Party
TO PREPARE PLATFORM
THAT MEANS NOTHING
Will Seek to Have Confer
ence Called Imme-
diately

Washington, Dec. 26.--Agitation for
a conference OF House Republicans TO
outline definite plan Of constructive ac'
ton during this and the next Congress TO
replace the present policy of merely OPP
posing Democratic proposals began sun
day 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 Rep
resentative Lenroot of Wisconsin for the
place, Representative Gardner of Massa'
chusetts said he wo-ld imediately seek
to have conference called for the pur'
pose of formulating policies" for the
future. He made it clear that his effort
to obtain a conference should be entirely
disassociated from his opposition to Mr.
Mann. which he SAYS is based solely on
his conviction that Mr.. Mann stands for
prussia and Prussianism" in interna-
tional affairs. Until Mann Endorsed Pres
ident Wilson's recent peace message
Gardner said he favored him.
II shall endeavor to have conference
called to formulate policies and discuss
them rather than personalities said the
Massachusetts, represeb sstiye. am
tired of waiting for lot OF big wigs
in the Republican party TO prepare a
platform for us that means nothing The
Republican party more nearly represents
the people than any other, and IT is high
time that we were planning for urging
the adoption OF many progressive ideas
which already have been Incorporated
into laws in other countries"
Representative Lenroot evineed keen
interest in the conference proposal and
said he favored a similar plan.
"There is very general sentiment on
the Republican side" he said, "for con
ference to discuss the future action OF
the party representatives in the House
| | think that we should not be content
with merely opposing Democratic pro-
posals in the present Congress. II We
/ do not favor them we should state our
reasons and offer substitutes which We
believe to be better | should like &c
see the Republicans adopt such plan
| for the remainder of the short term OF
Congress and outline a general program
| OF legislation for the next session.
Representative Lenroot declined to dis
cuss the speakership situation. as hi
constantly has done since his friends be
gan urging him to get into the race open
lly.
Coincident with the return OF Mr.
Gardner it became known that he re
Gently conferred with Col. Roosevelt or
the House situation Other than saying
that a conference had been held, how
ever. Mr.. Gardner declined to discuss the
meeting. Representative Schall OF MIN
nesota. one of the two Progressiyes elect
ed to the House, also is in receipt OF ar
Invitation to call on Col. Roosevelt.
In political circles the eolonePs activi
tv is interpreted as indicating that he In
tends to take more than a passing IN
terest in the organization of the House
Some observers see III the present aglta
tatiop for changes in the conduct OF the
Republican work in the House part oil
| general move OF progressively inclinee
RenubIicans TO command a hearing in The
| 1920 campaign
Representative Gardner's announce
ment of his Intention TO agitate Tor
conference met cordial response among
many of the rank and file Republicans
who are anxious to prevent the preseh,
ranking minority members OF seVera
committees who are classified as lrrecon
sistable stand. patters from gaining char
manships unless they make declarations
of progressive principles.