The Washington times., 1910-10-05
ProgreSSiyeS Wrathy Over
Expressions of Platform
At Saratoga.
COLONEL ACCUSED
OF BEING TWO-FACED
Insurgents Hope Former President
Will Square Himself" While
on Southern Trip.

NEW YORK oct blow IS TheOdOre
Roosevelt going 10 square himself
with the Western insurgents and pro-
gressives for the Utierances in the New
York Republican platform adopted at
Saratoga More particularly. how is he
going to explain away the tariff plank
Of the platform in question?
These are questions which the colonel
may throw light upon in his trip to the
South and Southwest, including the visit
to Indiana 10 speak for Senator Bev-l
eridge- They are questions which lot
Of folks here and all over the country
are asking. and they are likely 10 cost
Colonel Roosevelt the support OF large
percentage OF the progresslves in va
rious states unless they are answered.
along with some other queries growing
out Of the Saratoga platform.
! With about a week elapsed since the
adoption Of the Republican platform at
Saratoga, It IS possible to get some idea
OF how II has been received by the in
surgents, or progressive
1t is clear that II has stirred I'd a
storm OF attack and criticism. This IS
especially true through the middle West
and all the States where insurgency is
strong. Insurgent newspapers aEe Civ
ing vent 10 the sharpest kind OF criti-
cism on the tariff plank Some criticism
Is voiced. too, because Of the strong in
dorsement Of President Taft.
Tariff Plank Disappointing.
But II IS the tariff plank that is caus-
ing the most grief II is being assafled
without stint. and along with such at
tacks are going pointed criticisms Of
progressive newspapers the country over
are voicing their keen disappointment
over the tariff plank. Some are going so
far as o accuse Roosevelt Of talking one
thing n the West and then turning
around and doing the other in the East
II is going 20 be worth ones while
10 watch the outcome OF the row that
has been kicked I'D because Of the
Saratoga tarin plank Il Is entirely
possible that II will prove something
more than a temporary furry. and that
Il will permanently ALLEVIATE a large
percentage Of the support which Colonel
Roosevelt has had from the progress
sives. The complexion Of more than
one 1912 delegation may be changed
by It.
To recount what had led I'D 10 this
important and almost amazing situa-
ton. 1t is necessary 10 recall that up
10 the tire when Colonel Roosevelt
started on his Western trip. there vas
doubt in the minds OF a great many
progressives as 70 where the colonel
would stand. They were willing 70
give allegiance 10 him in most cases
provicinE he should support their doc
trines.
In the Denver. Osawatomie and Sioux
Fails speeches, the colonel satisfied the
insurgents he was at one with them
At Sioux Falls. he spoke out plainly on
n tariTf and. without indOrsing the
new tariff law. spoke out for revision
schedule by schedule in the light OF the
findings Of a competent commission.
This position was satisfactory 10 the
progressives. On the whole. the former
Presidents tariff utterances on his
Western trip, and his general tendency
to support the progressive notions, won
the hearts Of the prOgressives 10 him
almost completely
Robbed of Glory.
II is true that some Of the progressive
/ leaders did not view with entire com
placency the thought that they had
/ fought the battle OF progTessivism
while Mr.. Roosevelt was hunting in
Africa. that they had given the "oSd
guard in Senate and House a drubbing
| IN his absence, that they had set the
/ progressive movement going steadily
ahead. and that the colonel came along
/ AZ the eleventh hour and annexed the
movement put himself abreast Of il
| and seemed to make himself the leader
of IT, But those leaders who felt that
way had little TO say about IL
| Then came on the New York Repuoli-
/ can convention II was heralded as a
/ great fight of Roosevelt versus the
/ bosses. The colonel went 70 Saratoga.
/ beat the bosses on the temporary chair
| mauship and got control Of the state
! central committee and the organization
/ Also he nominated his friend, Sumson-
| for governor
! II WAS flashed over the country. hour
| BY hour, day by day, that Roosevelt
| had driven the bosses out and was absO-
/ Lutte master Of the convention Taking
/ this as correct, progressives everywhere
/ pricked I'D their ears and listened to
/ what would be said in the platform on
/ tariff.
/ them while they listened. They heard
a declaration that was warmly com
! mandatory Of the Payne-Aldrich law,
/ that emphasized the fact there had been
/ an average reduction. that the advance
1 N the cost OF living Was not uIc 70 l4At
! present tariff. that the tariff board was
! excellent. and that there should be re-
vision schedule by schedule. AS whole,
1t amounted 10 a strong expression of
| approval Of the Payne-AldriCh measure.
Platform Minor Issue
| The Saratoga and New York view OF
! the convention was not the national
| view At Saratoga everybody talked
about the driving out Of the bosses, the
control of the organization, the ques-
ton Of who would be nominated. The
platform was given little thought, ap-
parently. except as TO the expression on
/ direct nominations.
But all over the country prOgressives
have been looking chiefly at the plat
/ form. They wanted 10 know, first Of
all. what a convention run by Mr..
Roosevelt said as TO the tariff. as TO the
| Administration, and other important
matters. The result was that when they
saw a tariff plank praising the Payne
! Aldrich measure they overlooked most
/ everything else and proceeded TO boil