The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-08-15
Maine Political Notes

spirit as to be entitled to respect.
however much one may differ with
/ their judgment. and respect they shall
+ have. They have a perfect right 70
hold what opinions they please and to
vote as they see fit. Still We think
they are making mistake. We be-
lieye in standing BY the party, If
right. because II IS right, If wrong. to
put it right We endorse the position
OF such Progressive Republicans as
Hadley of Missouri. Deueen OF Hi
nois, Stubs Of Kansas. Cummas Of
Iowa, lie Toilette OF Wisconsin. and
Hanna of North Dakota. who refuse to
bolt and who think the better way is
TO stick TO the party and work 70 re-
form it from within
The boilers justify their course on
/ the ground that the Chicago couyen-
ton was fraudulent and tho nomina-
ton OF Taft as they say was stolen"
They claim that if the convention had
been conducted fairly. Roosevelt would
have been the nominee. Into that
vexed and weltering sea of claims AMI
counter claims we shall not venture at
this time farther than 10 say that the
case has more than one side and that
there are men of ability and fair minds
on both sides. There were doubtless
things done at Chicago which it would
be hard TO defend on ethical grounds,
even though as propositions OF legal
technicality or on the ground OF Gus
tom and precedent they are defensible
Governor Hadley. one Of the most
prominent and influential of the Roose-
Welt leaders on the floor OF the con-
yention and a man to whom there was
a general Difference. has admitted that
if the Roosevelt men had been in con-
trol of the national committee they
would probably have done the same
thing The committee played accord
ing to the rules of the game. II the
rules are wrong. let's reform them.
The steam roller is no new thing
II has been used before. and used
ruthlessly. Let's abolish the steam
roller II it IS wrong % let the old
national committee hold over and run
the new convention. change that II
Southern representation is wrong,
change that TOO II tae system is
faulty in other respects-aud there is
reason 10 think it is-reform the sys-
TEN. II there has been boss ruiz. Do
put an end to boss ruls. As q matter
of fact il is probable that thu national
conventions this year are the lasi N
be run on the old plan. The primary
movement is spreading, and it is prob
able that four years hence the nation
al nominations VIII be made directly
by the people. or that il viii amount
to that
Meanwhile We think our friends
who have gone into the third party
movement are mistaken and that they
viii realize their mistake before many
months They are dojnE II as they
claim To preserve their self-respart
and to register their protest against
What taey consider uufairness. But
al What eost2 The only practical sf-
teet can De- 10 detea, the Republican
party and pH' the Democratic in pow
cr Perhaps the Republican party
has become SO wicked as To deserve
such punishment. Certainly is ancient
enemy has not called it such names as
arr nov bestowed hy some Of its To-
cent members. Nevertheless We adj
here to the opinion that Hadiey. De
neen and the others mentioned have
taken the more jud.c.ous course and
that the better way 10 secure desired
reforms is to work from within e
Portland Press