The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-11-14
VIEWING ELECTION RESULTS
PROGRESSIVE
BY a. M. Welles

BY a. M. WeIIes
The Progressive party views witt
complacence the results of the recent
presidential election.
The Progressive party polled four
and half million votes, secured near
ly one hundred votes in the electoral
college, demolished the most corrupt
and vicious political machine that
ever cursed American politics, and
put the Republican party out of bust
Mesa remarkable achievement for a
political organization but thre g
months old.
The Democratic party polled seven
million votes, the Progressive party
four and half million, the Republi-
can party three million. OF the Will
son vote some two million we're "spite''
votes, cast by machine Republicans
who, knowing that Taft couldn't win,
voted for the Democratic nominee in
order to carry out their policy of "any-
thing to beat Roosevelt" Another
million came from Republicans who
were scared into voting for Wilson or
who fearing that Roosevelt could not
be elected threw their votes where
they thought they would do most to
defeat Taft.
This leaves the straight Democratic
vote about the same size as the Pro-
gressive vote. OF this straight Demo-
cratic vote, at least two thirds is
naturally progressive and will be cast
for the next Progressive presidential
nominee unless the Democratic party
breaks the shac kles of tradition and
becomes what it never has been and
is not likely to be, really progressive
The Democratic party is reactionary
by tradition, by practice, y environ
ment and by choice; and though Of
late there have appeared in its ranks
few really progressive and construc-
tive statesmen, the outlook for it to
do differently in the future from
what it has done in the rast is, to
put it mildly. not particularly en-
couraging. Mr.. Wilson is cultured
gentleman. scholarly, high-minded
aud will do what he honestly believes
to be right and for the best interests
of the nation. But with the Belmont
Observation-Disclosures outfit
a the Bipartisan invisible govern
ment" behind the scenes, does any
sane man suppose he will be able to
accomplish very much?
The election of Woodrow Wilson is
in no sense partisan Democratic vic
tory. 1t is victory of the "plain
people" rebelling against political
corruption. The people differed as TO
men and methods, but they accom-.
plished their end and the Democratic
party was the beneficiary.
The reactionary Republican party,
controlled by the big selfish interests
and convicted of the theft of presi-
Dental nomination, with the nominee
standing calmly and smilingly by and
accepting the stolen goods, has been
put out Of commission. 1t has no
body but its own selfish and corrupt
bosses and manipulators to blame for
being laid away in the political bury.
ing ground there to sleep so soundly
that Gabriel's trump shall not dis
turb its slumbers. Never before in
the history of the Nation has politi-
cal party been SO completely wiped
out Of existence.
The field is in fine condition for the
Progressive party, party born in a
grave political crisis, party made up
of and managed by the men in the
ranks, party composed of men will
ing to spend and be spent in its
cause, party that, OF oil existing
political organizations, has the most
to offer for the arhelioration of exist
ing social and economic conditions
and the establishment of government
sof the people, by the people and for
the people," and that is even now grid
ing its loins for continuance of the
fight for humanity.
The Republican party Is down and
out and deserves to be; the Demo-
cratic party stands in grave danger of
being sent the same route; the Pro-
gressive party still stands at Ar
nageddon and battles for the Lord.