The Washington herald., 1911-01-25
COLONEL SCOOPS"
.INSURGENT BAND
Writes Piece for His Paper
on New League.
THEN DOES NOT SIGN ARTICLES
After Reading Over Programme for
Progressive Party. Col. Roosevelt
Writes Article for "OutlOok'' En-
bodyinE the Principles and Then
Suddenly Disappears.

Col. Roosevelt and the newly-organ-
lied National Progressive Republican
League furnished the theme of much
gossip in Washington yesterday. Where
was the colonel when the new uniforms
arrived. and why did he not don the
plumes and stripes?
When the programme of the new
league was all ready. several weeks
ago. it was presented for the scrutiny
OF the sage of Oyster Fay as a matter
Of course. The colonel, so the story
goes. kept the committee waiting. while
he thought and thought. Then he sat
down and penned an article for the
Outlook Of January 81, and thereby
''scooped" his waiting companions. The
article for Outlook dealt with Nation
alism and popular rule" and outlined
lot of the very things which were in
the platform of the Progressive League.
The Progressive League forthwith
started things going without the sup
port moral or otherwise, of Col. T.
Roosevelt. except such as they could
draw from his article in the Outlook.
Those who are in earnest as to carry
ing the movement forward are inclined
TO give no further thought to eX-Presi-
dents or anybody else whom it might
be pleasing to have aboard the band waS-
on. The Progressive Leaguers are in
earnest. They say they are willing to
point the way and let all follow who
will.
Effect Yet Probe NAUTICAL.
The effect the new insurgent organiza-
ton will have on coming political cam
paigns has not been figured out definite
~ as yet by the wiseacros. but they are
willing to assert that If insurgentisrl
made any dent IN the late contest the
Progressive League is due to fellow up
the fun. The main feature to watch for
the p resent. they say. is the extent of
the enrolling movement
1t is pointed out that there were many
persons throughout the country who fos-
tered the same set of principles as did the
insurgent band from the House and the
Senate. and yet were unwilling to be
called either '.InSurgents' or progress
sives." They preferred to remain within
the ranks Of their party in the hope of
seeing il brought back to them instead
Of cutting loose and oafiunE down stream
as an independent craft. Now. however.
Senator Bourne, Senator Beveridge, SEN
ator La Toilette. and the other progress
siveS have organized a league which in
tends to gain members and preach def
mite doctrines. They are awaiting the
response of the country in order to be
able to determine the effect of the or
ganization upon the future operations
of the political parties.
Inasmuch as the inception of the new
League movement was in effect mere
stamping with a name the platform
which has been read abroad by the men
who have Undertaken it. and inaSmuch
As men themselves, through recent legis-
lative battles in Congress, have gradual
ly been recognized as brothers in prin-
Ciple. il was not much of an effort for
washington to grasp the new organiza-
ton. The guess has been hazaded that
most people failed to read farther than
d few names down the list of organizers
After satisfying themselves that Senator
La Toilette. Clifford, Pinchot and a few
others were on the roll. the others
could easily be called Off
Roosevelt. Name Missing.
The absence of the name of Col. Roose
welt perhaps did not arouse much sur
prise for that individual. while preach
ing the progressiveism OF the sisners of
the new platform has showed no inten-
ton of doing other than sticking around
where he can ever listen to the trampinng
feet of the old party. This attitude. no
doubt. has furnished ground for the re-
port-not dened-that Roosevelt has re-
opened close relations with President
Taft and is nowadays exchanging many
letters and kilograms with him.
or course Mr.. RooSevelt'S future
moves along this line will be watched
with interest, but for that matter. SO
it is pointed out. President Taft him
self can poin to a willingness to meet
insurgents. Progressive Leaguers. or
anybody else on a fair and honest plat
form whose planks do not wObble.
There is no indication, that the Presi
dent is concerning himself more than
usual with the doinSs of the progress
sives. He is said to have them well
catalogued already and knows just
about what he can count upon when
the struggle for his second term begins
to take shape