Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-09-24
DO THEY CARE FOR INTERESTS
OF THE PEOPLE OR PEOPLE
OF THE INTERESTS?
SENATOR BAILEY SAYS IN WEST
VIRGINIA 1T is OFFICES
RATHER THAN PRINCIPLE
CANDIDATES ARE
ENDORSED BY FOLLOWERS
OF ROOSEVELT.

Whether the members of the Pro
gressiye Party arc in earnest in try
ing to establish a party which viii
look after the interest of the people
rather than the people of the inter-
ests, seems TO be open to question
so far as West Virginia il concerned.
For in this state. the Progressives,
through their leaders, have endorsed
the reactionary nominees Of the Re-
publican party for state and congress.
sional offices when it is well known
fact that every candidate on the Re-
publican ticket is reaetionary that
belongs to the old stand-pat element
/ Of the Republican party, against
which the people of the State have
rebelled.
The sincerity of the Progressive
leaders in West Virginia is not only
questioned in the State but was pub
licly questioned in the senate of the
United States by Senator Bailey Of
Texas just before the adjournment of
/ Congress when he called attention to
| the fact that it seemed to him that the
West Virginia Progressives consid-
cred it matter OF Office more than
4 matter of principle.
Just why a member of the Progress
siye party, pledged to Progressive
| measures and identified with the Pro-
| gressive party because of the reac-
| tionary policies of the Republican
party and the stand-pat character of
| he Republican leaders. should sup
| port the ticket nominated by the Re-
publican party and consisting entirely
Of reactionary candidates can be ex-
planned better by Senator Bailey's de-
scription of the situation than in any
| lther way. Addressing the senate on
| August "a, Senator Bailey said:
Gentlemen on the other side, you
have run your course, and you are
lust as certain to walt outside for
he next so years as we have waited
outside for the last so years. If we
are as wise as ] devoutly pray We
1 will be. / am not calculating upon
your division continuing, nor am |
| calculating upon three parties of inn
| oortant numbers in this country.
"There is not room for one conser-
| gatiye party and two radical parties,
| lor is there room for two conserva-
l I've pdTlieS ullu OHb IdulCdi party ia
his country There will come a dis
solution and reorganization; and l
hink | see some evidence of 1t now.
notice that down in West Virginia
1t is permissible to talk politics in
he senate--the Republicans and the
| progressiyes have coalesced on a
state ticket
Il designate them by different
| names because they claim them, and
[ really have found great satisfaction
in seeing the ex-President appropriate
| the name Progressive because that
| will spare me having my Democratic
| friends tell me from time to time
that they are 'Progressives 1t ID
| impossible that the 'Progressives
| should be in earnest If they fuse with
! the Republicans like they are doing
| down in West Virginia. 1t Is more a
1 matter OF Offices with them than 1t ia
matter of principle.
''If | believed about them what the
Republicans say about them, | would
not have any fellowship with them
and If believed about the Republi
4 cans what the Progressives say about
them, then | would not have any fel
lowship with the Republicans; and
believing the worst that each says
about the other, OF course have nc
Temptation TO join either OF those
parties"