The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-10-25
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25, 1911.
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICANS.


held last week by q political organiza-
ton known az Progressive Republi.
cans suggest the old time query.
"whst is in q name?" The appropria-
ton of the term progressive" i'm.
plies that republicans generally class
ed as Irregular" are deficient in the
discharge OF their duty to the body
polite.
The republican party is a party OF
progress; the democratic party, also,
%endeavors to keep step with the march
of events. The two parties simply
differ with respect to the direction in
which progress shall be made, or the
methods by which desired results shall
be attained. The existence OF these
two great political organizations for
over half a century is.proof that they
are progressive: otherwise one or the
the other would have disappeared. A
political party that stands still car.
not long survive.
The attempt to organize insurgent
elements of the republican party, how.
ever, may serve q useful purpose.
The members of the proposed new
organization are assumed to be sin.
ere and honest in thetbelief that their
0ld.time partylassociates! are not liv.
ing up to their oblig ations-that Ger.
tain desirable reforms have not re-
ceived the Observation-Disclosures
that the minorityIview Of the situation
is superior to thatientertained by the
majority Of Metropolitan party. The
insurgents ar~ejentitled to freedom of
thought in this matter, and undoubt.
edly have the right to submit the
question to the judgment of the cleo.
torate.
The experience of party politics on
several former occasions demonstra tes
che benefit of insurgent movements In
the ranks Of political organizations.
Such incidents ldirect public attention
to the matters at issue, and the ex-
haustive discussion that follows the
temporary party disruption acquaints
the voters with the merits of each side
of the proposition. The result is the
moulding Of public opinion to which
one of the discordant elements must
adjust its views, or be wiped off the
map.
1t was %pertinently remarked by
President Taft, in one of his recent
public speeches., that progressive
movements in matters political should
be made step:byistep-that it is some.
Nmes inadvisable or dangerous to
take q big leap Unto the dark. That
view of the Imatter will appeal to q
majority OF republicans, although it
is apparently not acceptable to the
organizers ofIthe so.called progressive
republican movement.
The campaignI for which prepare.
lions are being made by the several
political organic atoms will enable the
voters to arrive at. an intelligent un'
Outstanding ofs.the issues presented,
and their verdict will settle any con.
troversy awaiting decision. 1t may
happen th atIthespopular judgment will
favor some of the legislative reforms
urged by the so.called progressives.
and in that event those who oppose
them will fall intoIline.
The American people, as q general
rule, are opposed to radical reforms;
they prefer conserva alive action, and
would proceed slowly when advancing
along paths to which they are no,
accustomed. They seldom adopt the
course mapped out by political ex
tremists, the middle. of.the road beinl
considered the better route alonl
which to travel toward the destination
they may have in view.
SUMNER FALLOWING.