Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-18
TAFT A DEAD ISSUE
Col. Roosevelt So Refers to
the President.
SPEAKS IN NEW ENGLAND
Opens Campaign in Massachusetts
by Making Four Speeches.
MIKES POLITICS AND MORALS
Says He Wouldn't Be in Progressive
Movement If It Concerned
Him Only.

BOSTON. August 1.-THE progressive
campaign in Massachusetts was opened
today by ex-President Roosevelt with
scenes departing from those traditionally
associated with political rally Some
of those who took part in it compared it
rather to huge revival camp meeting
Supporters of the new party gathered in
throngs. sang hymns and cheered Col
Roosevelt. the central figure in it all,
made four speeches. He mixed politics
and morals. now exhorting his hearers
to set up a high standard in public and
private life. again speaking bluntly of
his conceptio NOT political procedure and
criticising his opponents sharply At
each meeting OF the progressives they
sang the battle hymn of the new party,
onward, Christian Soldiers
In one of his speeches Col. Roosevelt
referred to President Taft as a dead
issue
Discusses New England Campaign.
The ex-President motored from Prov
ioehce. H. l., where he spoke last night.
He discussed the New England cam
paien with the progressive leaders here
then went by automobile to Revere Beach,
where he made his first speech. After
long address to the Assumption Society
ne returned to Revere Beach for the
Massachusetts progressive banquet at
which he made his third speech. On
MS return to Boston he addressed a
crowd on the common. later taking a
train for New York. where he is due
early in the morning
The colonel came to MasSa chusetts ex-
pectfng to make one speech At Revere
Beach and on the Common there were
thousands OF persons who waved red ban
danas, the Roosevelt battle flag" At
Revere Beach the colonel gave a special
wave of his hand to the Roosevelt club
from Beverly, Mass, President Taft's
summer home, which carried banner
inscribed We love Beverly. but oh you
Oyster Bay
Never Discusses dead Issues"
In his main speech of the day the col
onel criticised Woodrow Wilson's re-
marks about the democratic and progress
sive platforms. defended the recall of
judicial decisions and assailed number
of New England sena tors
Tell us about Taft" shouted a man
in the crowd N .zz~
'I never discuss dead issues" Col.
Roosevelt shouted back. Replying to an
other question as TO whether the progress
sive party was to be permanent, he said:
IF this movement concerned only me- l
wouldn't be in II myself"
In speaking of the moral issue involved
he said:
Our whole movement Is based on The
theory that political life is living If
it is not based on the Ten Commandments
and the Golden Rule"
Defends Perkins and Finn.
Col Roosevelt Rad his hands full when
he arrived at the Common. The throng
was SO great that only portion of it
could get within earshot. Scattered
through the crowd were men who heckled
him az soon as he began TO speak. They
interrupted him constantly with questions
and raised such clamor that for a time
the colonel was forced To stop speaking
police officer asked him whether he
wished To have the men elected, but the
colonel said that he would handle the
crowd. II took half an hour of hard
fighting to bring quiet. but in the end the
colonel came off victorious and finished
lis speech. He made vigorous defense
of George w. Perkins If New York and
William Finn of Pittsburgh, two of his
leaders.
Al the outset Col. Roosevelt announced
that he would answer any question that
any body asked and that nobody could
embarraSs him for a minute.
How about Perkins, man called
out.
Il am delighted to tell you about Mr..
Perkins, the colonel replied I'm sat
Mr. Perkins Is rich man. said he.
He came into this movement not at my
request. but of his own initiative. / felt
just the same curiosity that man in
the crowd who asked me about him felt.
/ said to him: MIR. Perkins, why are you
supporting me- Mr.. Perkins flushed, and
| said he did not know but that he ought
| to be offended but told him he should
| not be, and that I was both surprised
| and pleased 10 have his support.
Why He Is With Roosevelt.
The prime reason why / am with
! YOU he told me, is because I have chill
! dren. / came to the conclusion that this
| country won't be good place for my
| children unless We have substantial JUS
| tice unless the relations between capital
| and labor are on better basis. i wish
| to support any movement which will
| bring that about. SO far as I can see,'
Mr Perkins told me. you are the only
| public man who, in good faith, is sup.
| porting those views
II have told you literally what Mr..
| Perkins said. Curtously enough 1t was
| almost exactly what Mr.. Finn said. l
Perkins and Mr.. Finn. Their support
| has been given in teh open. There is
nothing invisible In this movement. Mr..
1 Perkins and Mr.. Finn both heartily ap-
prove of the progressive platform adopted
/ at Chicago.
Believes In Regulation.
/ II said to Mr.. Perkins: You are in the
steel industry Before you support me l
wish you to understand that I intend to
/ work for regulation Of the big industrial
| concerns, including the steel industry
| Mr.. Perkins said that was all right
J and that he believed in II.
Mr. Finn and Mr.. Perkins have sup
ported this movement without asking
/ thing and with the assurance given to
me personally that they are not seeking
4 thing. AS long they do that they
are entitled to the respect which any
good citizens get. II ever l do anything e
1 in the future for Mr.. Perkins or Mr.
Finn that / should not do then l am
to be condemned and they are to be con-
demned. But unless l do 1t, Ii shows
small mind 10 object to their work
/ for this movement.
How about Wilson," was another
question
| Here is Roosevet's answer: IF you
| think you can get anything good out of
| the old machine-ridden party then I ad-
| mire your optimism, but / pity your
| Judgment
In response to a query about socialism
Col. Roosevelt said:
'In our platform we have grappled with
certain of the evils which the socialists
| have sought to grapple with. The diff
| ference Is that we grappled with them
| in an efficient way and the socialists are
ichasing will-o -the-wispA"