The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-12
THE COLONEL is "IT,'

L.
The Progressive political conference
III Chicago has turned out precisely as
was generally expected. Colonel Roose.
welt was not only the main figure Of the
conference, but was in fact the "whole
show lie did not formally accept the
unoihclal nomination for the Presi.
dency in 1916 which was rendered him
hut he warned all others $50 keep off
the grass. He wants to keep the CON
trol OF the Progressive party absolutely
In his own hands, and yet he wants to
nave the nomination 'fforccd' upon
him, as he claimed it was ut the Pro.
gresslVe convention last August. Yet
then as now, he breathes threatening
ana slaughter against any one who
might have the audacity even TO think
of opposing him for the nomination.
The plan of reorganizing and strength
enlng the Progressive party takes
practically the same form as that Of the
socialist organization, where every one
is expected to pool in with his money
and to be an active propagandist so far
as his time will allow. This may in
dicate future coalescence with the So.
clallst party, where Roosevelt seems to
be fast drifting.
Ihe unmeasured animosity which the
Colonel shows against the Republican
party is hard TO understand That is
the party which gave him his official
positions and his prominence before the
American people, and yet nothing seems
to sult him quite so we'll as TO rail at
and denounee the Republican party, and
no one stands so high in his estimation
as the one who IS most vehement in de-
nouncing that party and it's leaders.
we see in this conference of the
Progressives in Chicago the waning of
that party. This conference put it fair
y on the toboggan slide, showing
clearly that Roosevelt is all there is to
it; aud we do not believe that the Re
publican party need have very much
anxiety for the future with respect to
the Progressives, if it will be wise aud
honest IN its reorganization. Roose-
break that party and to compel Repub-
licans who are willing to mend their
party ways, drop the standpatters, and
get into the light of progression, to
como to the Progressives. will neces-
sarily be failure. For, there is no
vital issue presented by Colonel Roose-
velt, As Senator Borah of Idaho saws.
the Progressive idea presents no issue,
and he declares that any party which
offers the country comprehensive and
effective programme on the subjects of
national taxation, reform of our bank !
ing and currency legislation, and ade. !
quate dealing with monopolistic combi. |
nations, VIII have "no trouble in |
commanding the support of a vast ma.
iority Of the people for the next quarter
Of century" And he declares that
when this issue is formed "we want |
that issue 10 be policies, and not per
sons. But that is precisely what Col |
oncl Roosevelt does not want. ANY |
policy which leaves out his personality |
is obnoxious, absurd, ridiculous, and not |
to be considered
But Senator Borah is certainly right |
A clear issue must be presented to the |
American people; and tho sentiment |
to the Democratic ideas |
must be crystalized into an issue which |
will he supported by all those of Repub- !
lican Tendencies and Republican faith. !
and that will be quite different propo-
sition from the one idea, one person
ality notion of tho Progressive party,
which has not yet progressed far
enough to present an issue or to ignore |
The ono personality, If we may Judge |
from the Progressive conference in Chi.
cago. there is no indication that the
are yet ready TO proceed |
any further than the pledge Of absolute
devotion to one person. But as Senator /
Borah clearly points out, that sort of
thing does not form an issue before the
American people, and will not serve as
a basis for the formation of a new
party or the regeneration of the Repub
ican party. "Mcasures. not men, ~
must bo the rule, and those measures
must be vital. clear-cut and such as will
receive the support Of the thinking por-
tion Of the American public.