The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-09-28

Some few weeks ago so-calle'
Progressive League" of Belllhghahl
met endorsed Senator LaFollette 10
republican candidate for president an
now the report is being circulated
that the progressives of Whatcon
county have endorsed LaFollette.
Personally l think just such act
ions as that of the Progressive Lea
que" is what endangers the hucces
of the progressive element of the
republican party and of progressive
principles. l don't believe anyone Wi
accuse the Tribune of not being pro
gressive and hence | shall speaF
plainly without fear of being misun'
derstOOd.
More than progressive principles il
government it has been progressive
principles in politics that has broken
thous ands of republicans away from
the control of the old party machine
We wanted to get away from the
machine methods of doing politics,
Of selecting men for candidates, Of
securing the nomination of men for
office. That is true, isn't it? NO
one denies it, does he? Well then,
is it any improvement-or at least Is
it any improvement in principle-to
break away from the old machine
simply to organize new one.
Who was at that progressive con-
vention that endorsed LaFollette? ]
might have been there, | was invit-
ed, but l didn't go, and l don't know
who was there. But, this | do know.
1t could not have been represent
alive convention of the progressives
of Whatcom county Those who
gathered, gathered in Bigger's office.
Presumably his office would not hold
manv hundred voters. Those who
We're there were not representa-
ives of those who did not go. There
were no caucuses. l wasn't there but
| would like to bet that l could
name nearly dozen who We're there
How? Because | know about a dozen
who might be benefited by the or
ganization of some sort of a machine
Ivy the endorsement of themselves,
and others for certain nominations.
l dare say the county assessor was
there dare say the prosecuting ut
torney was there. l dare say at least
one superior judge was there. ]
dare say at least one state senator
vas there.
Why do these men want organic.
alton? Because they want office
Why would they prefer a little Or.
ganization that could meet in little
law office? Because they have had
their political training in the Dld
school and without an organization
that they can control they don't
know how to handle themselves TO
their personal advantage.
This is not a condemnation of La
Toilette. ! think l shall support hin.
for the nomination for president and
] hope for president, but if ] know
LaFOllette he would not approve an
endorsement alleging to come from
the progressive element of Whatcom
county when in reality not one In
80 of the progressives had any voice
in the action.
Ill tell you gentlemen, if this pro.
gressive movement simply comes
down to the organization of another
machine, rather than join it, ] think
l would stick with the old machine.
1t has been tried and tested and
though it does not work honestly in
all cases, at least it works. If
must en.rust the nominations or sell
ection of candidates to one or two
men | would about as leave trust
them to one few men as to another
Most of us progressives fought for
the primary, and it seems to me
that the Progressive League is setting
poor example to the old timers who
opposed the primary.
:?
Men, not party, and principles not
interests, are what will count in the
real progressive movement.
Just because Judge Netterer in
court, and several newspaper men
and attorneys out of court, have in
simulated that Prosecutor BiXby had
Interior motives in prosecuting S. IL.
Horton, rich Blaine man, who he
failed to convict, is not necessarially
a. sign that it is true.
The trouble is this. Just at the
nresent time BiXby has an anxious eye