Evening star., 1919-04-19
scent PLAN. TO PUT.
c. 0. P. men ASIDE.
Progressives Would EIimi-
nate 0Id-Liners From
Presidential Race.

Increasing signs Of activity are dis
cernible among the progressive re-
publicans, especially the close per-
sonal followers Of the late Col. Roose-
welt, which are construed by national
politicians here to forecast an i'm
pending nationwide drive" by the
progressives to dominate the repub-
lican party. The plan of campaign.
SO far as disclosed by developments.
contemplates elimination from con-
sideration as presidential possibili-
ties of a group of old-line repub-
licans and conhning the selection OF
a candidate to a type conforming to
progressive ideals.
The men proposed to be eliminated
would include Taft. Hughes, Lodge,
Harding, Knox, Watson and Lowden.
The type to be insisted upon would be
such men as Senators Hiram John
son, Lenroot, Borah. Cummins or Ken
yon.
The question Of Importance in
volved in all this, politicians declare.
is whether the progressives in
tend to draw a dead line against a
group Of men. and If one of their own
type is not selected by the national
convention, to repeat the perform
ance Of 1912 and bolt the convention.
At the time Col. Roosevelt died the
two factions of the republican party
were reunited. Had he lived, 1t is the
that he would have received the re-
publican nomination in 1920. When
he died the republican national com
mittee. meeting in Chicago. took &C
tion which virtually appropriated his
memory to the republican party and
nf
also by way of giving the glad hand
Of welcome and reconciliation to all
who had followed the colonel in his
bolt and declaring in favor of letting
bygones be bygones.
Fly in the Ointment.
But there 10 a fly in the ointment
now. The progressives, 1t is said
propose to assert their predominanct
| align the regular republicans in &
class to be cast into political outel
| darkness. In order to make. theil
point clear and emphasize it. they pro
| pose to classify. ticket and catalogue
certain individuals as typical of thu
| as presidential possibilities.
| Geographical limitations woul(
| seem to have important bearing IL
the classification Of undesirable re
publicans, OLD line repupucan6 say
| The great lakes and the Illinoii
| river appear to constitute the bound
aries and any man arising east O
the line Of demarcation thus formet
| doesn't belong" However, there ar
many republicans living to the east
ward; a majority of the republican
| delegation in Congress. representing
q great republican vote. 50 reside
But the leaders whom this consti
tiency have respected and revere'
are charged to be "reactionaries" an
must be eliminated.
Some o fthe old-time republicans
dissemblinK their resentment at sue
an attitude. are inclined. however
to temporiEe with the progressive
and not let the quarrel over candi
dates proceed to the extent of caus
ing another split in the party. TIL
main thing, they contend. is to &c
the democratic administration out.
The important fact remains. it
pointed out. that the bulk OF the re
publican vote as represented in Con
gress lies in conservative communi
ties. The legislation for the futur
should be responsive to the senti
ment Of the conservative sectioni
and with republicans. it is Congress
and not the executive. thSt control
public affairs.