The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-11-28
A Communication.
Lake Moxie, Me-, Nov. 20, 1912
The editor of the Independent Report


you ask certain questions which are
answered as follows:
The Progressive Party has come to
stay. 1t was not founded on the fact
that Mr.. Taft was presented with a
stolen nomination, although that was
the final straw that broke the back Of
the elephant. The split in the Re-
publican Party began, when the poll
cies of that great leader, whom you
have repeatedly slurred and misrepre-
scented, were first attacked by members
of his own party 1t became an open
break when Mr. Taft surrounded him
self by reactionaries and by their ad-
vice abandoned the Roosevelt policies.
Mr. Roosevelt owes nothing to the Re
publican Party. His nomination for
Vice President was simply an attempt
bv the Republican bosses of New
York state to smother him. "a full
account Is given in the yearbook of
the International Encyclopedia OF
1900. The people became indignant
with Mr.. Taft when he broke his
solemn promise to them by signing
the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill. 1t was
this tariff bill which brought the Pro-
gressives in Congress together under
the leadership of Albert j. Beveridge.
He it was who introduced the tarif
board measure which, when shorn OF
its strength, was finally allowed to
pass, and for which Mr.. Taft has as
sumed the credit. Then it was that
the Progressives began their fight to
keep the promises of the platform
which you say was SO good. Then 1t
was that Mr.. Taft Withheld federal pa
tronage from the Progressives, dis
charged Claws and Pinchot for pro-
testing against what has since been
nroyen to be fraud, and the fight was
on.
What did Col. Roosevelt do when he
came back from Africa? Did he join
in the popular cutlery against his
faithless friend? No. He fought his
best to save his party from its newt
able defeat in 1910. You, who accuse
Theodore Roosevelt of splitting the
party in 1912 are either willfuliy
ignorant of the facts or are intention
ally misrepresentin the facts. / re-
fer you to the Congressional Record,
the record of what has happened out
side of Congress and to various arti-
Giles published in the leading maya
zines, particularly one in the Satur-
day Evening Post of Oct Z, 1911.
Note the date.
Now, there Is far more difference
between the fundamental principles
of the Progressive Party and the prin-
ciples of those who called themselves
the Republican Party than there Is
between the policies of the reaction
airy bosses of the Democratic and Re-
publican Parties. The fact that the
Taft reactionaries are willing to vote
with the Democratic reactionaries, as
shown by your own words. proves
to be true.
Now, after enough of them did so
vote at the last election to deliver this
state to Mr.. Wilson, after all the mis-
representation and abuse you heaped
upon us in the last campaign, after
your candidate called us the rabble
of the cities" and "non-thinking peo-
pie, specifically minded, hero-wor-
shippers" when our number included
such women as Jane Adams and
such men as Jacob Refs, after you ac-
cepted the support of the Progressive
Party in the election of Mr.. Haines
and then made an active newspaper
campaign against us in the national
campaign, you ask us to join with
you. The only reason you give for
such action on our part is that it will
insure the success of the Republican
Party.
Your every word shows that you
have as yet no conception of this
great crusade for the preservation Of
the government, this struggle to make
this country better place for the man
underneath to live in, this fight to
make the principles laid down at
Mount Small and in the Sermon on the
Mount a living part of this govern
ment Our cause Is higher than mere
party success, higher than the success
of any candidate. We welcome to our
ranks all who in their hearts feel the
worth of our cause. There is no de-
feat for us, and no compromise with
evil or selfshness, either within or
without our party. We will fight for
the enactment of our principles into
law. each in his own small way, as
long as God gives us strength to fight.
Very sincerely yours,
MERTON T. GOODRICH,
Sec. Progressive County Com.
lnaon Grouno