New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-01-19
new Third PARTY,
PERKINS, THREAT
Bull Moose CroeSuS Issues Def
to Republicans

Albany, Jan. 19.-The formation Of
a new third party with militant or
carnations in every state. in time for
the congressional and gubernatorlal
elections two years hence, with the
inevitable corrollary of Il blighting re-
publican hopes Of victory in the presl-
Dental election two years later. ac-
cordng to George w. Perkins. is the
alternative with which the republicans
will find themselves confronted I'M
less the Republican National Com
mittce undoes what the executive
committee did at it's meeting in New
York last Monday, when it elected
John T. Adams of Iowa, vice chair
man.
Mr.. Perkins is at the capitol full
Of fight, and fresh from a confer
ence with Colonel Theodore Roose-
welt. Ostensibly Mr.. Perkins came
here to discuss food and markets leg
islation with Senator Charles w.
Wicks, head of the legislative food
and markets commission; with S. j.
Lowell. master Of the state grange,
and with Governor Whitman himself.
Mr.. Perkins freely admitted, however,
that in all probability he would talk
over with the governor the republi-N
can progressive controversy that has
followed the action of the Old Guard
leaders composing the executive COM
mittee Of the republican national
committee.
Twill you ask Governor Whitman
to take a hand in the fight on the
side of the progressive forces?" Mr..
Perkins was asked.
"No," said the progressive leader.
IT did not come here with any such
Intention
Don't you think Governor Whit
man might be helpful to your cause ?"
"Governor Whitman as leader of
the republican forces of the biggest
state in the country of necessity is
a potential figure. even in a national
sense Mr. Perkins replied but this
Is not a fight within party lines. 1t
is a fight between the progressiyes
who lined up behind the republican
nominee for president in the last cleo
ton and the Old Guard element in
tn republican organization. I cannot
see where Governor Whitman would
have any excuse for getting mixed up
IN this fight. or where he could do
any SoOu DN SetllnS INTO it.
Assured of Wide Support.
Discussing the broader aspects. Of
the. situation which has arisen as 2
result of the executive committee
meeting and the attempt to sidetrack
William r. Wilcox in the manage
ment of the national committee af
fairs, Mr.. Perkins said that he has |
assurances Of support from progress |
siVes in all parts of the country in |
the stand he had taken. He referred (
especially to the message he had re-
ceived from Senator-elect Hiram w.
johnson, of California.
The progressive party of 1912 has
risen from it's tomb as a result of what
happened in New York last Monday"
said the progressive leader. Men
might be scoundrels and yet need not
be fools, but that bunch on the ex-
ecutive committee had no brains or
they would have realized that just
that would happen
When he was asked regarding fu-
ture plans, Mr.. Perkins said
"Of course. we should like to see
the differences between the republi-
can party and the progressi:es COM
pOSSQ LOT l1t SOOu VI TIE country, De-
cause that is the only means by which
we can present a solid front against
the democrats four years hence. From
a party point Of view, we do not care
q snap because we know that public
opinion will be with us, not with the
men who did their best to make a
| united effort in 1920 impossible.
"Mr. Colby and myself have de-
| manded q full meeting of the repuh-
! ican national committee, and, in my
| opinion nothing will be done on our
| part until a reasonable opportunity
has been afforded the republicans to
| act on our reQuest'
National Moose Conference.
IF no such meeting is called what
| Will you do?" Mr.. Perkins was asked.
Replying, Mr.. Perkins said that, in
! all likelihood, Il national conference
| of progressiVes would be called unless
the request was acted upon within the
| next two or three months.
would that be with a view of plac-