Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-10

CHICAGO. December 1O.-All standing
room was taken when the conference Of
the progressive party was formally call
ed to order today in the La Sale Hotel
Senator Dixon. the national committee
chairman, spoke briefly. and was follow
ed by Col. Roosevelt with the keynote
speech
Col Roosevelt made it plain that the
program Of the progressive party does
not contemplate making terms with the
republican party as party. He said in
eject that the new party had come to
stay and expected eventually to attract
to its banner the progressives who still
gave allegiance to the republican and
democratic organizations.
Addressing the progressive national
committee and other leaders, Col. Roose-
welt congratulated them on what had been
accomplished in the short time since the
party was organized and gave hope for
the future. He did not refer to the out
come OF the campaign. but dwelt briefly
on the action OF the Chicago convention.
Results of the Campaign.
He said IN part:
In this brief campaign we have over
thrown the powerful and corrupt machine
that betrayed and strangied the republi-
can party. Some day the honest men
and. women who make up the rank and
file of the republican party will realize
the full iniquity Of which the men were
guilty who ia the republican convention
Of June last by deliberate political theft
wrencned the control of the party from
the people. made it the party of reaction
and save 1t into the absolute control Of
the bosses.
THE men who took part in, profited by
or cOnaoned and indorsed the theft of the
Chicago convention should never again be
trusted by men who believe in honesty.
Our purpose is to keep UP a continuous
campaign for social and Industrial Justice
and Tor genuine government by the people
end for the people. Such a campaign
cannot be expected from any party which
is partly reactionary. and at their best
both of the Old parties are partly, and
they are usually dominantly, reactionary
Our function is to bring about the
needed realignment of the republican
political parties along national and
rational lines. Substantially the old
parties are but wings of the same party
Of reaction and privilege. There is now
no natural definite difference between
them. Ultimately all the progressives
who still cling TO the two old parties Will
have to come with us in order to effect
the needed improvement in political con-
ditions. in the efficiency of government
and in financial and industrial standards.
Support All Progressive Legislation.
I'VE should support legislation that
will carry out our principles regardless
Of what party may introduce it in the
several states.
Our people, and especially our pro-
gressive members. must ever keep in
mind that the progressive party is by
it's platform committed to the doctrine
m
become part of the law Of the land pro-
vided We can get the people to stand for
them If legislature. executive and
court stands In the way. then in lawful
laid down in the national progressive
platform. We intend to see that the will
of the people is carried out; and that
judge, legislature and executive officer
alike do their full part in thus carry
ing out the will of the people No party
which denies to the people the right to
secure justice, as We progressives pro-
pose when the courts interpret the Con-
stitution so as TO enthrOne injustice,
has the right to claim credit for sim
cerity in any effort to work for in
dustrial and social justice. All other
measures are useless If We permit a
people to have the final say as to
whether the people shall or shall not In
their laws do complete social and in
dustrial justice.
Divine Right of Judges.
"The doctrine Of the divine right o.
judges to rule the people is every whi
as ignoble as the doctrine of the divin,
right Of kings and this doctrine is nov
chiefly and powerfully upheld by tn,
legal and financial representatives o.
privilege.
1--WE also hold with Abraham Lincoln
and We. and We only. are the heirs o.
Lincoln's principles-that the people ar,
the masters Of the Constitution. We be
Neve IN the Constitution and for tha
very reason We contemptuously thrus
aside the efforts Of the reactionaries t,
turn II into a fetish for the obstruction o
Justice. The Constitution was created Il
secure justice, and we refuse to allow /
TO be SO perverted as to become a barrie
between the people and justice. Every
proposal We have made for applying ant
adapting the Constitution to our presen
needs is a proposal to save the Consti
tuition by making IT a more efficient in
strument for securing justice for all th
people.
1.-The so-cailed conservatives who objec
CONTINUED on Second Page)