The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-02-15
Thursday, February Is, 1912.
WHAT is A PRooREsslve7

WHAT is A pRooREssive,
In another column of The Intelisencer to day appears a communication
from Hon p II. Anderson. Assistant State Tax Commissioner who under
takes 10 tn what a progressive Republican is n to define the principles OF
progressive Repubhcanism. The communication is in e a reply O
a query contained in a editorial in The Intenhsencer several days ago. 1t
o a large extent undehnabIe.
Mr. Anderson quotes Senator La Toilette to the effect that progressive
tors Certainly h. particular class Jr Of o n s,xt. sm sass . ~ra
gress'e Republicans" have 10 right TO monopoize the belief in the popular
election of United States Senators. The agitation Tor h election Of United
States Senators by a direct vote as begun over forty years. ago. 1t las been
carried o m by a large number Of citizens. irrespective Off politics ever since
Never before has n particular organization Or body of lei assumed unto
e"seN te rh TO monopohze 'msp arhcular doctrine a their W pecu
liar belief To-day there are thousands of men who believe in the popular
Taft for denomination. and will continue to support him because they believe
him to be a great n successful President. There is 20 reason to assume
nh oi n'd sta'e' senator's Or that the failure to elect him will in any
ANN forward this particular cause.
Second, Mr.. Anderson informs III in the progressive creed is popular pl
mariesf r all officials from road master to President. Concdenuy he in
forms US that SO a as West Virginia is concerned. the progressive creed
means an attack the Republican State Committee. Curiousiy enough
the present Republican State Committee has gone further to secure popular
rmarleS nan IL! the organization that eve existed in the State 1t has
given TO the Republican voters of the State a opportunity to nominate cleo
i've ohcials in the counties Congressional districts and the State at large
Yet the organization which las done these things is singled ut by Mr. An
dersOn for particular eAecrauOn The InteIhgencer has its W opinion about
IF cruictinr hen Tor doing a ,bins which ~ ~ he"a~a" on. the :" O OnnS| ts
done. We are compelled to believe that there is some tanr of personal rancor
in Mr. Andersons progressive RepubIcanism.
Third in the platform are he initiative. the referendum and the re-
call and here We TO the real issue which i going to divide he con
servansm from the radcalsm of the country. Abraham Lincoln Once said
mat TINS country could lot permanently exist half free and hat slave. and
Sc the people o. thisc country ms determine this year. or som Other year
whehe they will maintain a representative form IF government or a pure de-
onh~ e. "", ue ne! nay seen o eonpromis between the " {. but
1.-THE M or hi other Will prevail in the American government For one
F' Wv nave 'ATeu anu STONn strong under a
balances. whose fine adjustment Of pouers ", vn"' cva" ~"oSe ven measure
judicial haze beer tbs wonder o the world. The essence of Representative
sovernment> is he ne and orderly selections by the people Of their chosen
men whom they empower to IegAate or them. TO execut the laws for them
M to fnterpre laws for them. 4 pure democracy means that the people
Instead OF dehgaung these powers to reprcsenta tive hold them in their NUN
hands n try to exercise them directly.
In all history no pure democracy evr existed and aounshed for any
great length of time. The petty republics IF Greece ana of Italy sver, and
hour. dictated TO by the demagOeue who happened to catch the ear Of Tho
nor FOL a Moment. are the historical types OF pure democracy. No man who
fecuve execution are. will believe bell ~" for y" a ea M Tna n ,@ necessities rT,ae OF er
ran eHectVey maintain a pue emOcracy isposin of all ,b. ,bovo,ds
OF questions that are bound to arise for their consideration transactin ,ha
'"o,"oDs '""me CT me ihat nus be carried on in their interest and
settling legal and judicial questions by a direct vote The advocates Of N
innuah'e The referendum and the recall OF course argue that these mea. ures
"e 10 Dc u"d only IN extreme cases. The laws Of this land and the form OF
vernme already provide effective mea for the expression of ,. rc,uhr
WI EA"eme cases never have existed. and never Will exist. that cannot be
reached by present methods
The Initiative. the Referendum and ,. u.c.u ara. .,
nasty spir'- who accept a nw doctrine and would have II written into law
morro no change their minds Yer night and think hat tho rest of
m" ~ |"'" concrete results are reached roo slow for their hasy M i'll
considered actions Let these principles be- established in or ,enmen
'' NV "' JUST a. "keF 10 be- abused by selfish interest, a. they are TO
80" .e E"' % "" public" Every public servant with IN executive
o"y ." perform. ever Judge on the bench. viii have he thros, of ar ,,n.at
'" p'pD"r prejudice before biz eyes Justice viii become a mockery unless
" u "" i'W" ir '" maWT'. Laws viii become q tra.est, miles THAR
Enforcement 20 a particular time and place seems 10 m.ct pubtc 1uor "a,
80 '' " WIS and already too many demonstrations o. t. uJUD,,.s ~
pubic orr e- to ,ur favor vrh aul... .er..,. .s y
D W 'o""- 't a-r sardIrr fnHr osts NJ oTce IN. system hat, ~.
f..f-- .. 40. 1919. @' "N "' "'h ' D.. h" public
republican ro'enm.a'
40 ..rs " Cpd. ara.rr -ou ~ d. 8, .-. ,- ..... -
Fh ' ..nf+- r Quotations from ,n- EDITOR
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