New-York tribune., 1918-02-07
Declares Spirit Of Harmony
Must Pervade National
Committee Meeting
Progressive Leaders
Grow More Restive
Attempt of "Stand-Pat alters"
to Cinch Control Causes
Uneasiness
ISfaH Co1.rcsponde1lccl

WASHINGTON, Feb G.-SO notice
able has become the restlcssness of
some of the Progressivcs at the idea
that the "Old Guard of the Rcpubli-
can party was going/to cinch its con-
troll of the party at the meeting of the
National Committee in st. Louis, next
Monday, that. at the behcst of some of
the big men in the party outside of
Congress, Boics Penrosc, Senator and
National Committeeman from Penn
sylvania, tonight put out statement
with a view to pouring oil on the
waters.
Mr.. Pcnrose dwclls on the necessity
of a spirit Of harmony and patriotism
dominating the meeting Of the commit
tee and prophesies in the same para
graph Republican ajority in the
next House approximating one hun
dred.
"No faction, personal or selfish elc-
ment should enter into the selection
Of chairman" he says.
Meanwhile many Of the more pro
gressive Republicans grow restive at
the idea OF any man, no matter how
progressive he might happen to be,
being put into the Craftsmanship "under
the auspices of Penrose. Smoot and
Crane" as they put it. They have no
personal objection to John T. Adams,
of Iowa, but they do not want him
made chairman as the choice Of the Old
Guard.
Favor Will T. Hays
The Progressives who feel this way
favor the selection Of VIII T. Hays, Of
Indiana. They acknowledge that Boss"
Hemingway. one Of the stanchest of the
"old guard" group, is for Hays, but
they say this is mere state pride and
desire to get Hays out Of the way
the same sentiment, in their opinion,
as actuates Senators Cummins and
Kenyon in their championship of
Adams, despite the fact that he is not
a Progressive.
Declining to discuss the comparatlN c
merits of the candidates, Senator Will
lam Z. Borah, OF Idaho, declared today
he regarded the selection Of pro
gressive chairman for the national
committee as indispensable.
81 read the editorial in The Tribune
yesterday with great interest and ap-
proval," said Mr.. Borah. 81 agree
heartily with its tone and am glad to
see the paper taking such stand. |
regard the selection of forward look
ing man with progressive views for
chairman of the Republican National
cox as absolutely essential TO any
force being exertcd as united whole
by the Republican party"
One prominent Republican, politician
told the Tribune CORES spondent that he
believed that Adams now had enough
pledged votes to insure his election.
The resentment of the Progressives
at what they believed to be the fort Of
tn "old guard" to "cinch" their control
of the party organization by the selec-
ton of friendly chairman Of the ma
tional committee may break out in an
other fashion.
Promises Hair Pulling
One Progressive Senator said to-day
that the next time Mr.. Penrose AFRO
gated to himself the right to speak as a
leader for the Republicans there would
be an exhibition Of chair pulling" in
the American House of Lords.
"Old Bill Stone got away with one
VI Llic DeSt tliSho VI HIS poilllCdI llIC
the other day, when he launched his
attack at the Republican party and
centred his fire on Mr.. Penrose as
though MI. Penrose were the Repub-
lican leader" said this Senator.
"Mr. Penrose, of course, at once con-
ceded that he was the Republican
leader and made a typical partisan re-
ply. Now, Stones action did not
hurt the Democratic party. They have
in their President an acknowledged
leader. No one can question that SO
Stones partisanship does not hurt
particularly the Democratic party But
Penrose, in replying on like plane.
did immeasurabe harm to the Republi-
can party, and. most important of all,
he impressed the country again with
the idea that the Old Guard Penrosc.
Smoot and Gallinger-are still the Re
publican party, and it would be to their
direction that the country would be
surrendered if the Republican party
should be victorious at the polls.
"That little by-play of Mr.. Stones
resulted in more harm to the Republi-
can party than anything that has hap
pened since 1912"