Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-22

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esWhy are you for Roosevelt and john
SOM" and the only political speech am
caDAble Of making IL In answer to that
question. shall be very personal be-
cause ! believe that all our affairs at
the last analysis come down to the
personal equation. How does It affect
one? What IL my relationship to this
or that reform or reformer?
am for the Progressive party be-
cause It IL . party organised for re-
of the practical sort; they have writ
ten their deeds In the public recordS
Of state and nation.
Having been a reformer for 80 years
IA land-reformer and an opponent Of
all special privilege. have supported
the man who at the moment represent
ed some vital principle Of progression.
] campaigEed for Cleveland in the days
when we believed he was about to ad-
vance the cause Of the people. I sup
ported Bryan when he stood for the
rights of the many against the de-
mands Of the few. and advocated the
Prediction Of Theodore Roosevelt.
Now. when a party organized to ig-
more sectional lines, knowing no south
and no north, no east and no west, is
formed. party with definite con-
tract with the people. would be false
to my 80 years OF reform speaking and
writing II did not instantly throw all
my influence for its leaders.
!. With the platform as whole, ] am
Single heartedly in accord. Its human
itarian spirit. its demand for the pop
ular rule, it's defense for righteous
business and its defense Of selfish and
cruel finance. its reassertion Of the
conservation policy-all those great
principles are put forth in language
that cannot be mistaken. They are
stated in terms which will enable the
humblest man to bring an indictment
against his leaders. if these promises
are not carried out.
The wording OF this platform Is not
that Of political schemers-it Is too
plain. too direct. too unequivocal of
phrase and paragraph 1t is an utter
ance of men on fire with desire of
nOblefr state, purer republic.
I am for the Progressive party be-
cause of its leaders: because men like
johnson and Pinchot and Beveridge
and Straus are in it and leading 1t and
young and progressive men. A party
OF idealists led by men Of experience
and moral conviction.
l am for the party because it recog-
nizes the rights of women and express
cs the need of legislation for the pro-
lection of women and children. No
other party ever dared to make such
assertion for the prevention of injus-
tice to the helpless.
When ! have said his much my
friends say, Yes, but there is Roose-
Welt, you are for Roosevelt"
II am"
'Why?"
Then l accept the challenge in the
questioner's tone. | am glad to be
asked that question. l am for Roose-
welt because he is a reformer who re-
forms. He is an idealist who knows
how to get results. He Is the greatest
all-round political leader in America.
His culture, his ancestry, his sense of
history, his perception of humor. his
1todigious memory, his experience as
n public official, his rugged honesty
and his marvellous vitality make him
the chief figure in this crusade.
No president since Washington has
ever put through so many far-reaching
measures--and why? Because he was
a young president. Most of our presi-
dents have been old and inert before
they took their chairs. Roosevelt was
in his youthful. expanding. brave per-
iod when he was called by the hand Of
death to TIE White House. Handicap
ped by the policies of his predecessor,
he carried himself with such discre-
ton as well as vigor that he was called
to an administration of his own. In
those four years when he was presi-
dent in his own right he made "a rec
ord which has no equal in the history
OF our executives.
II Is easy to start reform. but it is
exceedingly difficult to get reforma-
ton idea enacted into law. No man
ever went to Roosevelt with a meas
ure OF general public importance with
out getting an instant and steady re-
ply, THAT is good thing. l will ad-
vance it, His action in the coal
strike, his part in the Russo japanese
war, his work with Pinchot and Gar
field, his building up our policy Of