Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-07
PINCHOT TALKS ABOUT 1912
Addresses Progressive at Akron on
Future Policies.
CANDIDATE MUST BE STRONG MAN
Necessary AccordinE 60 His Views
That lie Be More Than Half
Platform, Since Party Lines
Not So Strictly Drawn.


AKRON. o.. March 6-Glfford Pinchot,
addressing a banquet OF progressive re-
publlcans tonight. said
In the field Of national politics the situa-
ton is less clear Here the central ques-
ton about which men are thinking con-
Germs the presidential nominations. Public
mention Of IL by responsible public men is
not heard but much quiet work is being
done and the lines are already taking
shape
This liz. Of course the formative time.
Therefore. / see every reason why the
public discussion of this matter is in
order now, while there still remains a
chance for the general body OF the voters
In each party to influence the result. The
longer we wait, the nearer the conventions
and the less likelihood that the will Of the
people may prevail against political man
euvers and the dictation Of the bosses.
Many a national convention does no more
than ratify a nomination safely secured,
by methods we all know, months before the
delegates assemble. The time to strike Is
when the iron is hot and can still be
shaped
am a republican, and as such am in
terested in the success of the republican
party as an instrument for securing the
republicans / am deeply interested land
rightly sol IN the next presidential nominal
ton, but 1 differ from some others in be-
ing willing to speak out. The public in
terest is not apt to suffer from plain
speaking. Thus far, however, I conform
cheerfully to the prevailing custom, and
express no opinion as to who the republican
nominee will be- or who he ought to be,
But II we keep silent over it we should
also keep up a lively thinking. For this
at least is sure: The republican party
cannot afford to risk its chance Of victory
in 1912 merely upon the hope OF demo-
cratic blunders Time was when that was
reasonably safe. Today II IL a dependence
distinctly less reliable than in the past.
Also we need a larger issue.
In 1912 the nominee himself will be more
than half the platform. 1t is obvious.
therefore, that the republican candidate
should be selected with peculiar care, and
| that he must have certain indispensable
qualifications
First, he must have wisdom, courage,
and genuine devotion to the welfare Of the
people.
Second, he must be a progressive, and
stand for popular government
| Third, he must be a leader whom the
] voters VIII follow Win enlDubldSul
Fourth, he must offer the party he is to
/ lead a fair chance to win.
These requirements are not unreasonable.
No man not reactionary can object to
the simple standard they contain. And
no man whatever can doubt that unless the
next republican national convention nomin-
ates a man who meets this test, the party Is
sure to suffer For in these days the in
dependent voters are increasing by leaps
and bounds.
Party ties sit more lightly on the voter
today than for many years, and that is
well. In the last election many a republi-
can was beaten by the refusal of his fell
low republicans to support him rather
than by the opposition of the democrats.
The political unrest Of today is merely a
sign Of political independence and peliti-
cal Independence holds the promise Of free
institutions
There are, believe many men who feel
as do. ! am a republican, but ! am an
American first. / am a republican but ]
reserve the right to vote for what / be-
Iieve. ! would rather be right than be
regular"
As a nation we are passing out of the
political leading strings of the special in
terests into the full development OF politi.
cal maturity The sign of our advance
from childhood into manhood is the pro.
gressive movement.