The Detroit times., 1911-02-09
LAFoLLETrE LEADS FOR
NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT
tCeatI.sea fren p.Es nd


published by him In the Outlook. In
this article Col. Roosevelt declared In
favor OF the popular government dec
larations OF the Progressive league.
He said he favored the initiative and
referendum. corrupt practices acts.
presidential preference primaries, and
the election OF senators by the people.
President Taft Is opposed TO all
these. He is on record In his critic
lsms of the Oklahoma and Arizona
constitutions and elsewhere. There
fore II Is impossible for Col. Roose-
welt TO support Mr.. Taft.
And OF course there are other rea-
sons. These may be summed up
briefly I'm the statement that Mr.. Taft
was elected as progressive and has
administered the presidential ONCE
as a reactionary. He let the progress
sives boost him into office. and then
took as his advisers such Special
Privilege leaders as Aldrich. Can
non, Ballinger, Crane and Penrose.
Col. Roosevelt Is not willing to be-
come q candidate himself, nor will he
try TO lead the progressive wing In
It's fight against Taft. The progress
sive leadership and the progressive
candidate must come from the pro-
gressive ranks.
To which the answer is fhe Pro-
gressive league. Friends OF popular
government and those opposed to
Taft's denomination have begun to
flock to the standard of the league.
The first rush of answers to the an
nouncement of the leagues forma-
ton has nearly swamped its offices.
From all quarters of the country come
requests for information and for au-
thority to start branch leagues. But
In all the mass of kilograms and let
tors, the one thing most clearly voiced
is opposition to the plans OF Special
Privilege government, and pleasure
In the fact that a movement has be-
gun headed by responsible leaders 10
put the government back into the peo-
pies hands.
Persons writing to the Progressive
league are asked by the officers OF
the league I'd be patient. In course
of time II will be possible to dig out
from under this great weight OF cor
respondence and to get into touch
with the leagues friends. Full infor-
nation of the purposes and methods
Of the league will In time be sent 10
those desiring 1t.
The league has no candidate TOT
president. The league stands Tor
principles, and 1t will continue its ex-
istence and it's work, no matter VINO
is nominated by the party.
No doubt LaFollette leads as the
progressive candidate. He stands
squarely on the declarations OF the
Progressive league, and Is regarded
by the organization of the league as
the best man to head their cause. To
the leaders he seems to be growing IN
the country's confidence. The record
of wisconsin In the late elections Is
an argument which appeals TO hepup-
licans of both wings. A man who
wins his state Is a man best fitted TO
win other states, which is principle
familiar To the least experienced poll
tician. LaFollette, backed by Roose-
Welt, 1t is felt, would make 2 formid-
able candidate.
Reports from states like oregon,
Washington, California, Kansas, Ne
braska, Minnesota, Michigan, North
and South Dakota and Indiana, all
agree that LaFollette delegations
could be secured from these states TO
the national convention.
This would make an excellent De
ginning, and in some OF the boss-rid-
den states 1t is believed the delega-
tions could be split; so 1t is not I'M
likely, as things look today, that La
toilette as the progressive candidate,
will show in the national convention
with nearly half the delegates.
Probably this would be followed by
Taft's retirement. Taft does not care
much for a fight, and he cares less
for losing fight. A convention so
hopelessly split would spell sure de-
feat for him, and even Tafts dele
gates would be likely to stampede TO
the popular cause and candidate. SO
the preconvention campaign opens
rather hopefully for the progressive
cause.