The Washington herald., 1911-01-26
PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE
From the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
Singularly enough, the name of Presi-
dent Taft does not appear on the list
Of signers Of the Progressive Republi-
can League of the United States. With
his great tact. good nature, and accom-
modating disposition. he might belong
to the league and still remain the Official
chief of the regular Republican party.
From the New York Tribune.
The newborn Republican Progressive
League would get a heartier welcome il
1t were possible to put aside the sus-
picion that it has not been organized en-
tirely on basis Of devotion to abstract
principles. The next Presidential cam
palgn Is only year off, and the in
ference will naturally be drawn that in
that campaign the league expects to
make fight for the particular kind of
progress which it represents
From the Philadelphia Press.
1t represents what is vaguely under
stood as the New Nationalism." Party
names. however. now convey little pre-
else meaning. 1t may be that we are to
have new alignment on something like
the old constitutional line. that will cut
through both parties even more COM
pletely than they were cut through on
the money question in 1896 But the con-
test will naturally come first within each
party to determine by which purpose it
is controlled.
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger
ha At itt,Ia ,f
sentatlves who have Joined this league
Is of more significance than that of the
unofficial signatories. While the declara-
ton of principles includes little that is
within the jurisdiction of Congress, it
points to the formation Of group"
within the Republican party representa-
ton that will not hold itself bound by the
action of the party. but may throw it's
votes at any time to a new combination
or block of similar groups.
From the Baltimore American
The programme OF the so-styled pro-
gressives includes the election of Sena-
tors by direct vote, direct primaries for
the nomination of all elective officials:
direct election of delegates to national
conventions. with opportunity for the VIC
tor TO express his choicce for President
and Vice President: amendments to State
constitutions. providing for the initia-
tive. the referendum, and the recall. and
tnoroughgoing corrupt practices acts.
with the exception of the last to which
any party should give concurrence. the
features of the programme are aca-
demic.
From the New York Mail
whether this progressive movement. so
far as it records itself in 1872, shall take
the form of nitroglycerin or of yeast is
not yet clear. In a measure the stars
in their courses are with these new
leaders. The regular Republican leaders
are older men, representing constituent
cies less dynamic than those behind the
insurgents. and death is moving these
leaders down The insurgency which is
triumphant in the West is at least ac-
tive in the East. But the Stubborn and
confusing fact is that a Western progress
sive is one thing and an Eastern pro-
greSSive is another
From the Philadelphia North American.
The Progressive League now comes into
formal being because of the recognition
OF the truth that special privilege is
responsible for every wrong perpetrated
or planned in this country. from the rape
of Alaska to the robbery of a Senate
seat by Lorimer: that special privilege
is established only when popular govern
ment is overthrown: that such evils re-
suit not as inevitable defects of democ-
racy. but from dearth of democracy, and
that the one sure cure is more democ-
racy. because special privilege is bound
to be condemned to death under real
popular government, by people edu-
Gated by suffering and despoilment.