Evening star., 1916-08-03
Holding Indignation Meetings
in indianapolis to Protest
Against "Crime of 1916"
AIM TO DECIDE UPON
HOW TO VOTE THIS FALL
Considering Three Courses, One of
Which Is to Indorse the Candidacy
of Woodrow Wilson.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

! INDIANAPOLIS. August s.
While notification and ratification
meetings are the order of the day
with the democrats and the re-
publicans, the remnants of the
shot-to-pieces progressive party
devote themselves to indignation
meetings, to protest against the
crime of 1916" as they term the
breaking away of their great
leaders from bull mooserv and
the Endorsement OF Hughes by
the progressives' national COM
mlttee. Following the revolt
against that action of bull moos-
ers in New Jersey, New York,
Indiana and Massachusetts,, which
were only statewide expressions,
national scope is to be given to the
insurrectlon from the Roosevelt
Perkins leadership in a confer
ence being held here today.
In attendance upon the meeting are
states from the east and the south.
The object is to decide upon a course
of action which will advise the per
picked and orphaned bull moose"
where to get or in the November
elections. In their present plight the
bull moosers are lacking a herd leader,
perhaps bellwether would be the Ma D.
pier simile since the moose has lost his
rampant nature and is more lamblike
than savage
Three Courses Considered.
Three courses are under consideration
in today's conference
First. to call another national con-
vention of the progressive party and
nominate a candidate for President
with John NJ. Parker of Louisiana for
Vice President
Second, to indorse the candidacy of
Woodrow Wilson.
Third. to issue a statement of griev-
ances against the leaders who have
gone over to the republicans and leave
il to the individual progressives to vote
either the democratic or republican
ticket as they see fit
All these propositions found support
eFs among the advance guard who cir
culated in the Hotel Claypool lobby
early today. There was no crystalliza-
t1on OF sentiment at the outset the
conferees feeling the necessity of taxi
ing counsel among themselves and es-
peciaHy with the eastern contingent
upon whom dependence is placed main
ly.
Bainbridge Colby of New York and
Matthew Hale of Massa chusetts will be
looked upon to lead the bewildered
moose along some path of rational ac-
tion. and they in turn are desirous Of
consulting the views of the men from
the middle west.
Bitter Feeling Voiced.
Mutual condolences over the untime-
ly blow-up of their orga anzation fur
nished the principal theme of conyer-
sation prior to milling. IndiRna-
tion and bitterness of feeling were
voiced in most emphatic terms. and
the ears Of Col. Roosevelt and George
W. Perkins must have burned this
morning.
Several practical considerations had
to be taken into account in connection
with the proposition for another ma
ronal convention. First was the uues-
tion of the candidate who would be a
figure big enough to command national
respect and attention. John NJ. Parker
is the ideal of such man, as is Victor
Murdoch of Kansas; but, alas, Murdoch
also has dashed forth from the bull
moose canebrake and is seeking richer
pasturage in China
Conference Late in Meeting.
Representatives from several eastern
states were late in arriving and as a
result the conference which was set
for IL o'clock, was not called to order
until nearly noon. cambridge Colby
of New York announced he was op-
posed to the Endorsement of President
Woodrow Wilson or the candidate of
any of the old parties.
There is no prearranged program
for the conference he said. we have
come here with open minds and have
no idea what action will be taken"
Parker Would Maintain Party.
John NJ. Parker. candidate for Vice
President on the progressive ticket, and
who is looked upon as the active repre-
sentative OF the militant progressives.
made this statement to The stars cor
respondent:
II am not in favor of calling another
national convention. as / am convinced
tnat the membership would he controlled
by proxies. and that majority of such
proxies would be hostile to the continued
organization Of the progressives. Neither
am / in favor of indorsing the nomina-
tion of President Wilson.
WI hat ] favor is that in every state
progressives should vote for electors on
the national ticket as progressives and
unpied2ed TO any presidential candi-
date. IL by this means we could elect
material number of electors, and il
the outcome should be close between
Hughes and Wilson. the proDressives
would hold the balance of power in the
electoral college. This is what both OF
the old parties fear. 1t is a contingency
by no means remote, and the plan. II
followed. would not only insure con-
tinued organization of the progressive
party, but would put US in position
Of great power and influence for good"
Seventeen States Represented.
The roll call showed that seventeen
states were represented at the confer
ence. as follows: Alabama, Connecticut.
Florida. Georgia, Indiana. Iowa. Ken
tuoky Louisiana. Massachusetts. Michi-
gan. Minnesota, Missouri. New Jersey.
New York. Pennsylvania, Texas and
Virginia.
A recess then was taken until late
In the afternoon.