The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-15
PROGRESSIVE REPUBMCANIsM.

When the sans cu1ottes of the Re
publican party began their warfare
for a notoriety that they hoped would
land them in the higher places of
government where more power and
larger emoluments prevail, they were
known as insurgents So are they
vet for that matter. It is their pref
erence that they be called progress
sives." Styling themselves as such,
they brand every one who disagrees
with them as ''stand-patters" or
s.stand-stilIers.' Because of their un-
fairness in this respect, they are real
ly not entitled to the exclusive use
of the title ''progressives." if they are
entitled to it at ALL AS a matter Of
fact most of their principles are
woven around experiments in matters
of government many of which have
been tried in times gone by and found
wanting. No one will contend that
the trial of an experiment is identi-
cal with the achievement of progress
Indeed, most experirn ents work out in
just the opposite direction.
And So because a man has not
lined up behind the doctrines of the
LaFollettes. the Cummsnses. the Bris-
tows, the Pinchots, etc, these gentle
men, forsooth, would deny him the
right to be known as a progressive,
when as a matter of fact he stands for
progress in all things. President Taft
has been this kind of a progressive.
Because he was known to be such,
ex-President Roosevelt picked him as
his successor. Colonel Roosevelt is
the same kind of a progressive. None
of the gentlemen who are attempting
to get him to declare that he will ac-
cept the next Republican nomination
for the presidency, if it were rendered
him, has had the temerity to suggest
that Colonel Roosevelt has swallowed
the preachings of LaFollette and his
clan, hook, line and sinker. Express
ing any such sentiment would prompt
~ land its author in the ranks of the
Ananias club. And the Republican
party is filled with men who believe
in progress in working out the prob
lens confronting the government.
Among them is Dan Anthony, repre-
senting the First congressional dis
trict of Kansas in the house of repre-
sentatives. despite the efforts of his
.insurgent' friends in Kansas and
elsewhere to rank him as a stand
patter." as a man opposed to any
thing that will work fer progress in
making the government of the United
States a better one in every essential.
Mr. Anthony demonstrates this in a
letter he has been sending recently
to many OF his constituents. from
which the following excerpts are
taken:
The tariff and the trust question
will probably be the most important
matters before this session of con-
gress. 1 shall continue TO support all
sound measures for the downward
revision of the tariff, with due regard
to a proper measure Of protection
to American products and American
labor, and congress will be enabled
TO proceed in these matters with full
information as to the cost OF produc-
ton at home and abroad, furnished by
the tariff commission now at work, so
that further revision of the tariff can
be based. as it should be, upon eco
nomic and industrial conditions and
rot upon considerations of political
expediency-
Il shall also ally myself with those
who believe in governmental regulation