The Daily Missoulian., 1912-08-21
THE REAL BATTLE

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Thus does Hapers Weekly counsel the campaigners for
ne man first nominated by its eudte edtothe man who
afterward spurned the support of Harper but for whom
the Journal of Civilization and Wall Street has yet nger-
ling fondness
The hint givenso the editor says-n the hone that Il
in time and that will be accepted We NAV assume
too that put forth not because Hapers loves Taft less
but because the progressive national convention has borne
in upon the editorial mind of Harpers the realization that
progressive movement represents permanent party and
that starts off with degree Of strength which was wholly
unexpected and which has dsconcerted the opposition to
the principles which it represents.
The effect Of the progressive national convention has not
lyet been measured In the states near Chicago it has al
ready been felt to marked extent As the understanding
o its significance spreads will its effect become stronger
and more areachng In the central there has been
already great awakening The progressive party is at
tracting the loyal czenry is gaining recruits from
the veterans of old parties well from the younger
lot the country
The uerance of Harpers which is quoted above is nd
catve OF the effect of the progressive demonstration of
strength Overnight almost the country has discovered
that the battle for the presidency this year will be between
has been eliminated from the situation The very force Of
the progressive declaration of principles the very character
OF its men, the very strength Of the which it repre-
sents-a these have combined give its campaign an i'm
pets which its most ardent friends had hoped for
f1arpers type OF the corporatiOnowned publications
printed solely for the purpose of furnishing
TOT the captalStc propaganda VI this type aSO the
Sun and the Times and their k in the daily press of the
metropolis. II was these newspapers which sent to the
Chicago convention their best neWswrers with the inStruc
tons to tear the thing to pieces 1t these newspapers
which heard from their veteran writer's that not in
the cards to follow the Instructions The progressive
vention and the movement which it represented
thing And to tear them to pieces was out of the
question.
So the first impression which the progressive convention
produced was to compel realization Of the fact that the
party has come to stay Then the forced admission
that the Roosevelt candidacy so strong that bids fair
to be successful. Until the Chicago convention, there
few political observers in the east who did
slider the election Of Wilson foregone conclusion Since
that convention the keenest observers give their opn
ion that Roosevelt is likely to win. And it is but days
since the convention. 1t but forty days since the
party suggested And the progressive already
sweeping with splendid strength the country Its
force is compelling serious recognition from those who
regard the situation udcally 1t not possible to esti
the strength which the will attain when the
campaign is fairly under way.
1t is sentimental fancy either which will pass with
few weeks few months 1t is to be reckoned with as
a movement which has to stay. The principles
which enncated in the progressive partys
with the people the principles of righteousness the prn
cples Of justice the principles of humanity They appeal
to the thinking citizen They constitute the only definite
promise which before the people in this campaign They
give to the people the only chance they have shake off
the corporation control Of government
That why the progressive party is here to stay That
is why it is not William H. Taft whom Woodrow Wilson has
to beat Taft is already beaten by the alliance he has
formed and by the bosses whose orders he takes.