Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-04-21
INSURGENTS AND INDEPENDENTS.

INSURGENTS AND INDEPENDENTS.
Tint there is no chance Of mistak-
ing the significance OF an 'Indepcnd-
ent" at the present time, is indicated
by the frank utterance OF william
Randolph Hearst in signed editorial
in the New York American. 1t is
headed. The Independent Vote the
Democratic Opportunity" That is
precisely what voting Of republicans
| outside of the party means. and men
of all parties should face the bare
fact. The Independent vote from all
parties is an opportunity the demo-
cratic managers are not likely to per-
init to go unimproved.
| The particular independent vote, to
which Mr.. Hearst referred in this
connection. however, Is the vote rep
resented by the so-called Independence
league. and his utterance is calculated
to pave the way for closer afiliatiou
between the members of that organ
ization and regular democrats. 1t will
be recalled that John Temple Graves
In the course OF his address before
the democrats in process Of celebra-
tion in the national capital announced
that the independents were willing to
forgive the regulars. II the latter
showed proper signs of repentance,
or words to this effect. and the regu-
lars made the rafters resound with
their cheers over the prospect OF a
reunited party.
Now comes Hearst with the an
nouncement that mo one is author
lied to speak for the large body Of
Independent voters who constitute the
Independence league. Mr.. Graves
does not pretend to do 30. and GER
tainly DO not assume to DO So" Mfr.
Hearst continues: AT tho Washing
ton banquet Mr.. Graves expressed his
personal opinion. and while knew
nothing Of what Mr.. Graves was in
tending to say must admit that my
personal opinion comedies very large
~ with his as he expressed It. The
Independence league is committed to
principles, not to parties, and the In
dependent voters-because they are
independent-will unite with any
party which at any given time most
nearly expresses their principles"
Mr. Hearst defines an Independent
of his convictions. and insurgents as
merely men who would be independ-
ents. II they did not place higher
estimation upon their political jobs
than they place upon their political
principles" He says an insurgent
Will never accomplish anything he
cause he is not willing to sacrifice
anything, and that "as soon as a man
begins to think and care more about
his principles than he does about him
self he ceases to be an insurgent and
becomes an independent"
Mr.. Hearst concludes his pronoun-
ciamento with the statement that lie
believes "our independent forces will
continue to consider the promotion OF
their principles tho question of first
Importance IN any campaign. and will
be ready to unite with the Democratic
party if-and only if-their principles
can best be promoted by such a COM
bination."
Congressman Eugene y. Foss, the
democratic representative In an over
whelminEly republican district in
Massachusetts, declared In his speech
in Rochester. N. Y, IN behalf of the
democratic candidate for Congress
that the only way for the republican
insurgents" to accomplish anything
was to follow his example and come
out as a full-ledged democrat.
1t Is evident from these utterances
|
coming campaign is to capture the in
surgents of both parties. The demo
cratic insurgents or independents un-
der the lead of Hearst apparently be-
lteve that they are strong enough SO
that the regular democrats can be
persuaded to formulate n platform on
which they can manage to stand, and
which at tho same time viii he broad
enough so as to also accommodate the
Independents from the republican ranks.
These are the tendencies which the
republicans must face in the congress
sional elections the coming autumn
and under the circumstances It is not
strange that the republicans are hop
/ ing for the aid of Roosevelt to pre-
, vent the democrats from capturinl
t the next Congress.
Il ENCORE