Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-09-19
DO THEY CARE FOR INTERESTS
OF THE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE
OF the INTERESTS?
sENAToR BAILEY SAYS IN WEST
VIRGINIA liz is OFFICES
RATHER THAN PRINCIPLE
IREAcTIoNARY CANDIDATES ARE
ENDORSED BY FOLLOWERS
OF ROOSEVELT.

Whether the members of the Pro-
gressive Party are in earnest in try
ing to establish party which will
look after the interest of the people
rather than the people of the inter-
ests, seems to be open to question
SO far as West Virginia is concerned.
For in this state, the Progressives,
through their leaders, have endorsed
the reactionary nominees OF the Re-
publican party for state and congress
sional offices when it is well known
fact that every candidate on the Re-
publican ticket is reactionary that
belongs to the old stand-pat element
of the Republican party, against
which the people Of the State have
rebelled
The sincerity of the Progressive
leaders in West Virginia is not only
questioned in the State but was pub
licly questioned in the senate of the
United States by Senator Bailey Of
Texas just before the adjournment of
Congress when he called attention to
the fact that it seemed to him that the
West Virginia Progressives consid-
cred it a matter OF office more than
a. matter of principle.
Just why member of the Progress
siye party, pledged to Progressive
measures and identified with the Pro-
gressive party because of the reac-
tionary policies of the Republican
party and the stand-pat character OF
the Republican leaders, should sup
port the ticket nominated by the Re-
publican party and consisting entirely
of reactionary candidates can be ex-
planned better by Senator Bailey's de-
scription of the situation than in any
other way. Addressing the senate on
August "a, Senator Bailey said:
Gentlemen on the other side, you
have run your course, and you are
just as certain to- wait outside for
the next SO years as we have waited
outside for the last so years, If We
are as wise as / deyoutly pray we
will be-. am not calculating upon
your division continuing, nor am |
calculating upon three parties of i'm
portant numbers in this country.
There is not room for one conser-
vative party and two radical parties,
nor is there room for two conserva-
tive parties and one radical party in
this country. There will come q dis
solution and reorganization; and
think | see some evidence Of it now.
notice that down in West Virginia
\ if it is permissible to talk politics in
the senate-the Republicans and the
!! Progressiyes have coalesced on a
state ticket.
Il designate them by different
names because they claim them, and
really have found great satisfaction
in seeing the ex.President appropriate
the name Progressive because that
will spare me having my Democratic
friends tell me from time to time
that they are 'Progressives' 1t Is
impossible that the fProgressiyes'
should be in earnest if they fuse with
the Republicans like they are doing
down in West Virginia. It is more a
matter Of offices with them than it is
a matter of principle.
tIf | believed about them what the
Republicans say about them, | would
not have any fellowship with them;
and if / believed about the Republic
cans what the Progressives say about
them, then / would not have any fell
loWship with the Republicans; and
believing the worst that each says
about the other, of course | have no
temptation to Join either Of those
parties"