The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-03
STARTS BRYAN BOOM
Progressive Democratic League of
Ohio Effects an Organization.

| Columbus, o., Jan. s.@The Pro
! gressive Democratic league of Ohio
| came into bearing here at a conference
/ OF democrats of nearly every county
IN the state. Although many of the
conferees had entered the gathering
with the avowed intention of declar-
ing against the presidential candidacy
OF Governor Judson Harmon, the ex-
= ecutlVes name was mentioned only
! indirectly, and the organization con-
! tented itself with the adoption of reso-
! buttons urging the members to work
against the choice of any delegate to
either state or national convention
who had not proved himself a tried
and true Democrat.
The name of William J. Bryan, her
aided as "ablest to represent the pro-
gresstve ideals in any party" was re-
celVed with applause and speakers who
tanned the Democratic ardOr while
awaiting the report of the resolutions
committee made adherence to him the
nnal test to a title to the Progressive
Democracy.
The conference, which had been
called by W. W. Durbin, chose former
Congressman ]. J. Lentz as chairman.
Mr.. Lentz later was elected president
of the newly formed league. The
resolutions adopted follow:
We the representatives of the pioneer
progreSSiveS in the Democratic party in
the state of Ohio, in conference, realizing
that the never-ending conflict between
the standpatters and the progressives is
and mercenary agencies are active in
their efforts to thwart the purposes and
hopes of the six and a half million men
who voted the Democratic ticket every
time the Democratic national convention
gave them a progressive platform and
leader, and recognizing the historical
fact that the largest vote ever cast for
the Democratic ticket was in the three
times when the party had platform and
a candidate satisfactory to the progress
sive democracy of the country, do hereby
declare and adopt the following principles:
No Backward Step.
THAT there shall be no backward step
taken by the Democratic party either in
the platform adopted or the leader named
by the next Democratic national conven-
ton.
2-That to guarantee a progressive plat
form and a progressive candidate it is
necessary that the rank and file of Ohio
Democrats take immediate steps to secure
the election of 48 tried and true Demo-
Gratis as delegates to the coming national
convention.
5-That to protect the progressive Demo-
Gratis of Ohio against the possibility of
any traitor among these As delegates, it
is imperative that no advocate, associate,
protector, attorney, agent, counsel, re-
ceiver champion or hireling of Wall street
or other predatory interests be chosen as
delegate
THAT to protect the progressive Dem !
ocrats of Ohio against the possibility of
any traitor among the delegates to the
state convention, it is imperative that
none be sent to the state convention to
adopt a platform and nominate candidates +
for state offices and select delegates at Z
large to the Democratic national conven-
ton except men who have shown by their
past records that they are progressive
Democrats
5-That the recent victory of Democratic
candidates in certain eastern and middle
states normally Republican was solely I
due to the protest of the progressive Re I
publicans against the tariff and other /
selfish measures of the standpatters in |
that district.
6-That the suggestion of the nominal
ton OF any other than a known, tried |
and true progressive Democrat brings i'm |
rnediately to our memory. the disastrous |
defeat of 1904. when in Ohio, Parker lost
the state by more than 253, 600; out of the |
"a congressman We lost 20; out of $50
county offices we lost 100, and out of the (
IS counties we lost H.
THAT in order and for the purpose
of effecting and assuring to the Democ- /
racy of Ohio and the nation, the final /
of the principles here set I
forth, that We do hereby pledge our ev-
cry effort to that end.
Former Congressman Lentz. as tempo /
rary chairman. named Mr. Bryan as the !