Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-21

seeds beyond that. He deslgnates the
type OF party leadership which will
cause inevitable rebellion In the party,
and suggests the names OF few men
who would meet the situation. as he
sees 1t.
Because 1t Is time to stand up and
oe counted" he declares. IL wish to say
now that at the next presidential pri-
marieS l shall submit my name to the
Republicans OF Pennsylvania as one OF
the candidates for delegate to the Re-
publican National Convention. ] shall
stand for u plat form in harmony with
the policies and ideals OF Theodore
Roosevelt. and for the nomination OF
such man as Henry Allen. Hiram
Johnson. Irving Lcnroot or Leonard
Wood 1 shall oppose the nomination
Of reactionary like Senator Harding
or Jim Watson. or any other supporter
of special privilege. Such men cannot
be trusted TO secure to all the people
the fun results of their great war
sacrifice. The people paid the price
and the interests which are behind
these men ought not to get what the
people paid for.
ahead. both in Pennsylvania, and the
nation, to join in preventing the men
who fought Theodore Roosevelt and his
policies while he was living from con
trolling and sacrificing the party he
would have led to victory now that he
is dead"
Thrent OF G. o. L. Defeat.
If this statement has any signifi-
canoe at all--and it comes from one of
the most consistent and resourceful of
the progressive Republicans-it is a
direct challenge to the Old Guard. 1t
is threat Of party defeat il the re-
dictionary element succeeds in captur-
ing the Republican organization and
in exploiting ii in behalf of the inter
ton of n Democratic House Of Repre-
sentatives in 1910 That element con-
tinued in control long after that. if. in
fac facti 1t has ever released its grip upon
~ 70
tunity Tor service to it's hackers was
lost when the House passed from it's
contro! two years before the first cleo
ton or Woodrow Wilson.
But IL there is any real fight in the
progressive Republicans; il they ac-
tually mean to divorce the party from
It's old interests: IL they, honestly de-
mand new type Of leadership, and ir
all the protest they are now making is
not combination or bluff and buster,
of fuss and fustian. they do not have to
year. They can force the issue within
the next few weeks. They can issue
their challenge when the time comes
10 organize the next House and Senate.
HIVE Golden Opportunity.
golden opportunity will be offered
to them when Boles Penrose comes up
in the Senate caucus for the chairman
ship Of the Senate Committee on FL
nance, chairmanship which carries
with 1t the floor leadership of the
senate as whole. The same oppor
comes 10 ratify the nomination of Jo-
seph w. Fordney-a product of Can
nonlsm-for the chairmanship of the
House Ways and Means Committee. "A
post that carries with 1t the floor lead
erShip OF the new House.
If the progressive Republicans mean
what they say; il they are genuinely
alarmed over the fate of the party in
1920. and II they sincerely desire new
order within their ranks they can make
their stand when President Wilson re-
convenes Congress. If they begin
house cleaning then. and If they carry
their fight to tho point of actual re-
bellion they will not only compel a
new deal in the party. but they will
win the respect OF the whole country.
There have been skirmishes along
these lines already. but they have ac-
complished nothing. AS the situation
now stands. Mann and Cannon and
Fordney and Gillett arc in absolute
control of the House organization-a
quartet as rcactionary as ever domi-
mated Republican councils. The Pen
rose group is strongly intrcnched in
the Senate. and only an Individual here
and there has raised his voice against
the old guardism which has set forth
to dominate that body