The Washington herald., 1919-01-08
DEATH OF 7. R.
OPENS WAY FOR
BULL MOOSE
Republicans See Serious
Division Between Stand
patters and Progressives
PLEAD FOR HARMONY
Special Meeting Called for
Friday in Chicago to For
- ? muIate Plans.

as Political effects Of the death Of
Col. Roosevelt already are evident
here. While there is a natural re-
ticencc among political leaders. un-
der the circumstances, about talk
ing for publication, their views eE-
pressed privately show:
That "OId guard" Republicans fear
removal OF Roosevelt menacCs the
PARTY with a serious division be-
tween ProEressivcs and Standpat-
teTs, and that they are preparing to
meet this with plea for harmony.
That ProEressives sense great
appOrtunity for control Of the Re
publicau party and victory In the
election of 1920.
With respect to the first Of these.
Il became known yesterday that the
special meeting OF the Republican
National Committee called for Chl-
c-r-o on Friday of this week was to
formulate the harmony plea oe-
cause Republican leaders kne"
Roosevelt would not be in the race.
They did not know his death was
irrninrrt. but they dfd know his
health wa 50 poor that he was on
the point OF formally renOuncing all
intentIon Of getting into the 1920
Presidential campaign. The meeting
Friday will map out means OF get
ting and holding in line all Progress
siTes who show signs of insurginS'
Can OF "Scrappers.'
To this end "OlI guard" leaders have
been M king most vigorous ehortS 10
call on Pro-rrssives in the House ana
senate who are committed to hght
Prnrosc md Mann, and the antlquateu
Senate seniority rule, which conceh-
trates power i'm the hands OF few
men.
This fiaht. part of which is expected
this session and part next session,
when the Republicans control Con'
rrrss. will determine whether Pre-
grcssfvc- or ''staudpatters' shall con-
troll the Republican party and dictate
its platform i'm 1920. both sides admit
Tn, first skirTntsh is expected IN
Senator Norris proposal to amend
Senate rules so that the chairman OF
any important committee cannot at
the same time be a member OF any
other Of the big committees. In the
next Congress. for instance, Lodge Is
slated to BE- chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee. Under present
rules hc will retain his place as rank
tee. That means that when any i'm
portant revenue or foreign relations
bill is sent to conference between the
, two houses Lodge will be Conferee.
Penrose. Warren. SmoOt and other
"stanGnat' Republicans are Chairmen
or members of big committees which
handle vital legislation. The present
rule would put practically complete
control Of legislation in their hands.
Want 10 Suppress Norris.
So strong has Norris support be-
come that enissaries have asked him
what he wants to withdraw from
the fight. Norris says he will not
withdraw. however. He will press his
resolution TO n vote this session.
The other angle is the fight to pre-
vent PeuroSc becoming chairman of
tho Senate FinarCe Committee, and TO
beat Mann for Speaker Of the House.
Leaders in this fight have been
urged hy members Of the Republican
National Committee to call the fight
OF in tho interest of. party unity. but
have refused. They said. yesterday
they see good chances OF victory.
old guard leaders admitted that
IL either of these fights wins. Pro-
gressives will gain party leadership
and the country's support. The old
guard leaders professed to believe.
however. that they will be able to re-
move the danger OF an insurrection.
They spoke feolinGly of the strength
OF party loyalty. which they said will
keep in line at the testing time those
who now are breathing defiance
against the -Smoot-Lodge con-
troll