Evening capital news., 1916-12-18
SOME IN FAVOR OF
SPRING CONFERENCE
Others Inclined to the View
That Rest Cure Is What
Is Most Needed-Demo-
Gratis Also Looking After
Political Fences.

Washington, Dec. 18.-Although the
ahead and the people appear to be
surfeited with politics, the political
leaders do not intend to permit them
- have a rest Republicans in many
states are assembling committees to
plan for the reorganization OF their
party on lines for victory tn tho next
biennial election.
In Ohio for example a committee Of
nine party leaders are to meet in
few days to talk over the party situa-
tion in that state and to plan for the
future. This committee OF nine in
cludes Governor Willis, Myron T. Her
rick the late candidate for senator who
went down to defeat with Willis in the
general Republican wreck in that state,
Senator Harding, Rud X. Hynicka of
Cincinnati national committeeman and
representation OF Progressives.
DEMOCRATS ALSO ACTIVE.
It was learned today that the Demo-
cratic leaders are rlanning also. The
Woodrow Wilson Independent league,
of which former Representative Will
liam Kent was chairman and in which
Charles r. Crane, Norman Hapgood
and others of more or less prominence
in independent politics were conspicu-
Gus is to be continued and active work
viii go ON. The Jonathan Bourne Re-
publican publicity bureau with its ten
thousand dollar year editor in George
IL. Moses, of New Hampshire, Is to
keep up its work and Bourne and ex-
senator Hemenway are out passing tho
hHt 10 replenish the smouldering politi-
cal embers.
This bureau was established to boost
the candidacy Of John w. Weeks for
president. Later it kept up q desul-
tory hrjng in the campaign, Mr.. Bourne
assuming personal responsibility for
most Of its output. Word had gone out
that this bureau will fight to drive out
the Progressives. Just now it is feed
Ing large gobs OF boiler plate matter
TO country papers attacking Frank H.
Hitchcock. whose chief offense was
that be failed to be named as chairman
and therefore is responsible for Hughes
defeat.
STILL ANOTHER PROJECT.
Another coterie OF "reorganizers" ap-
peared in Washington last week.
Medill Mccormick, newly elected con-
gresham at large from Illinois and
former Bull Moose leader. was the
prime mover In the project. A private
dinner was given by Mr.. Mccormick
mt which several old guard leaders
among them Representative William
Mckinley Of Illinois, were present and
Chester H. Roweil, Progressive Repub-
liean leader Of California, represented
the Progressive thought. A half dozen
or more leaders representing the two
wings Of the party were at the dinner
but 1t came to nothing.
Some of those present asked that no
mention be made OF their presence as
they doubted the wisdom of the under
taking. Mr.. McCormiek's Progressive
followers believe there should be a ma :
tionwide conference soon at which the
old guard and the Progressive Repub-
licans should try to get together This
Is to be called for Chicago probably
about mid-winter if the plan goes for
ward.
THIRD PARTY CONFERENCE !
Matthew Hale, acting chairman of
the third party Progressive remnant
has already called meeting OF his
committee sympattizne friends for the
Manhattan hotel to plan for a national
conference of third party Progressives.
So there appears to be no such thing
rs the traditional calm after the
storm" that has ragged in politics this
year
Senator Borah said today that he
believed that conference next spring
to rejuvenate the Republican orgapi-
zation might not be a bad thing sen
ator Harding said today that he be-
Iieved it would be a good thing to give
the old party about six months of the
rest cure" Frank III. Hitchcock is busy
comforting with friends and former
lieutenants and there are those who be-
lieve that the Blonde hope" as his
friends refer to him, will yet lead the
party out of the Wilderness.