The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-21
G. 0.P. MOVES TO
NAME PROGRESSIVE
Thirty Republicans in Con-
gress Unite to Prevent
Choice Of ReactiOnary.
PLANS MADE AT DINNERS
Agreements Reached by Which
Strength Will Be Solid in
Convention.
PLANS MADE AT DINNERS

movement has been organized within
the Republican party to prevent the
nomination OF a so-called reactionary
for the Presidency. Thirty Republi-
cans in Congress have quietly Joined
in this movement TO insure what they
regard as a progressive nominee ana a
progressive platform at Chicago.
The plan has progressed 80 far that
one formal dinner has been held within
a few days, at which eleven Senators
were present or were represented by
proxies. Twice as many Republican
Representatives from the House at
tended. Several informal conferences
have been held. Another dinner VIII
be held Saturday at the Capitol PARK
Hotel. at which IL IL expected there
| will be several recruits.
The facts came out to-day at the
| Capitol and the Senators and Repre-
| sentatives interested In the movement
| talked freely OF their plans and ambi-
| tions
The eleven Senators from the Re-
/ publican side who have joined the Pro-
gressive Republican alliance are Rorah
! of Idaho. Cummins and Kenyon OF
Iowa. Clspp OF Minnesota. Gronna OF
! North Dakota Sterling of South Da-
! OF Nebraska. Poindexter and Jones Of
! Washington and Works OF California.
| Already the progressives in the Re-
| publican party have reached an agree
ment that net more than one progress
sive candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for President shall go before the
voters in any primary State.
/ To Prevent Division.
In this way the progressive Republic
cans expect to prevent division OF
their strength that might permit the
choice OF delegation that would vote
/ for a so-called ''reactionary.' This
agreement was made on behalf of Sem
ator Cummns and Senator La Toilette
with respect to North Dakota. but II
was said to-day that II would apply
to other primary States.
Now that Senator La Follette's Candi-
dacy has been formally launched In his
own Stats his followers are looking
anxiously to- North Dakota. which he
carried over Taft and Roosevelt in the
campaign for delegates In 1912. and
where he Is stjll held to be popular. Sem
ator Cummins's friends have been active
In the State and expect to carry II. But
II has been agreed that both shall not
seek the delegation.
II has not been determined vet which
will retire from the fight, but one OF
them will. probably with the understand
ing that II the other fails to land the
nomination or to show formidable
strength In the convention the second
choice OF the delegates shall be bestowed
on the candidate who gave way IN the
primaries.
The men in Congress who have en-
listed in the cooperative movement for
progr essive legislation, progressive
candidate and progressive platform
e. .n.lN
leans or invited them into the councils
because they felt they were not in SYM
pathy with the plan. At the same time
the men in the movement are very In
sls,ert tina, II has no ulterior purpose
and Is not insurrectionary. They all
claim TO he Republicans and DESTROYS
only Of putting the Republican house
in order.
Cammins chief Beneficiary.
on the surface Senator Cummins ap
pears to be the chief beneficiary among
the Presidential aspirants Senator
Borah is not an avowed candidate
Senator La Toilette is expected to hav,
a group OF delegates In. the convention
but will have a serious fight in his owl
state for the delegation,
! II Senator Cummns should fail to de
! yelop formidable strength and his fol
lowing should be dissolved after the firs
few ballots the votes would undoubtedl,
he divided among several candidates
Senator Borah would probably contro
/ most of them for himself or the candi
date lac might favor
Undoubtedly Justice Hughes coul,
command the votes OF most of the pro
. yr.ssiyes II his name II voted for
senator Burton will have following
: In each of the States represented In IN
, movement. He is said to be especial!
strong IN Wisconsin. Minnesota, low,
and Nebraska,
. A story has been afioat in Washingtol
, for several weeks that there was some
thing akin to "A working agreement o
understanding between Col. Roosevelt
n and Senator Cummins. II has even bcel
4 strongly limited that Senator Cummn
had expressed a Willingness that his fol
, lowers might support the Colonel afte
p they had discharged their duty TO hin
I in the convention II it seemed To then
, IN be the wisest course for promoting tn
progressive cause
colonel May Re for Cummins.
: /, has been considered significant her
that Col Roosevelt only recently.
, some Of his newspaper spokesmen cor
, rectly interpret his attitude. expresse
, a Willingness to give his support to Sen
, ator Cummins II he were nomina tee
. Some of the recent visitors to Oyste
a Ray have given out information tina
Senator Cummins had been transferre
to the list OF candidates who would re
= ceive Col. Roosevelt's support II noml
mated at Chicago,
Hut the progressives who have bee
y f:uring in the conferences under tn
/, | new alliance said to-day that the &C
!. operative movement did not conceal
| 81,