The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-10
WEDNESDAY. JULY 10. 1919.
WILSON BENEFICIARY OF SPLIT.

WILSON BENEFICIARY OF SPLIT.
Yesterday Inc Tr1in,oa commented on the
aetion OF the governing board OF the Mime
sofa Progressive League in determining to sup
port woodrow wilson in preference to Thee
ore Raosevel as he eader OF a third parly
movement The league takes the reasonable
ground thai as between one party that is split
into two wings and second party which is
solldiy behind a practically progressive candi-
date the logical choice for such Republicans
rs are really in earnest in the effort to bring
10 pass progressive ideas is that progressive
whose election is most probable Following
The lead OF the Minnesota League. comes Gov
ernor Osborn, OF Michigan, who in declaring
that he will vote and work for Wilson, says
am not inconsistent in tho position have
taken that the Republicans need not bolt their
party and will not be considered as having
beited If they vote for Woodrow wilson. Many
of the most prominent and influential Demo
Gratis IN the country did not vote for sup
port MIR Bryan They remained Democrats,
nevertheless. and are all supporting woodrow
f4s,ft
do not think new party erected on the
IA ssions Of any number of men can live, When
those who righteousy angry because or
the action at Chicago come TO their senses they
Will discover that they angry at certain
men IN the Republican party and not at the
spiendid old party Itself ! wish to reassert
aud re-emphasize that the issue is clear az n
aeep-toned bell One-half the work necessary
Ia create a new party directed 70 purifying the
Republican party Will produce tenfold better
results.
hope all good Republicans will refuse to
JOIN the maiconteuts in new party. do not
mean 10y this that temporary measures should
not he taken to present the name Of Theodore
fg00ggTof and 10 give people an opportunity
vote for whatever
"a do thIs ! hope It will be clearly understood
That they temporary,
Personally ! am still II the opinion that
those who are not satisfied with MIR Taft can
get iust exactly what they desire by voting tor
Woodrow Wilson. | am glad 10 see that Senator
Cummins and other distinguished gentlemen
gree with my position in this respect
Technically OF course, the Governor Ia
wrong man who belongs TO party. who
participates in and is in any sort responsible
Tor It's deliberations, s much OF party man
that for him to leave its candidate, to rebel
against the rule Of the majority or the sense
Of the party is not 10 be otherwise described
tran as bolt That is the technical rule
The practical rule he points out Is differ
enf Il arises when the intensity OF feelins
comes 20 point where it does not and cannot
recognize party obligation This has repeat
tipon the platform of Free Silver when hun
dreds of thousands OF loyal Democrats either
voted for Mckinley, stayed at home. or wen
"a Palmer and Buckner The same thing hap
pened among those Western Republicans
headed by Teller. who went 10 Bryan out o
LOYALTY 70 the same issue that drove man!
Democrats from his standard. In fact, the rea
political solvent in every election is the mum
Der OF men who refuse to keep put" in thei
party affiliations They are. for that reason
''bolters" perhaps but none the less party
men When the party they leave has beer
pUrged of error as they 81, when 1t ha'
come back TO he old course they agar
found In The ranks All that Governor Osborn
meant to say was that in the fight in the Re
pnbIican ranks between the advocates Of pro
rressiveness and those Of the stand pat re-
dictionary theory. there no chance OF party
compromise In the paramount issue. he pro
poses exactly as so many Democrats did in
1896. 10 cast his vote where it viii count as
a full vote Instead of half vote. In other
ords to the end Of helping to bring his
party TO It's senses, he Is 10 have hand in
eIecting President against whose fundamen
,al party beliefs he still stands in opposition
bu; whom he yet looks upon as the man OF
the hour 10 bring TO pass the greater good
Young as the campaign IS it is noticeable
that whle several progressive Republican in
fuences have announced themselves as in favor
Of Wilson. and others have stated that they
viii bolt the action OF the Chicago convention
and support Roosevelt. there il yet to be heard
the suggestion that any Democrat. save one
will desert either to Taft. to the Rough
Rider
The exception 10 Judge Ben Lindsay the
f. yenile judge whose action shows that he is
nothing more than child In politics