The Washington times., 1912-08-06

N~~s PbbpopCt TdtutT tudh ChhhuShoohs
Of the canned Kind, has marked the
sessions. vet 1000 men have come as
delegates to a convention in which less
than 800 were entitled to seats. These
men were former Republicans and
Democrats alike: men who had form
ally retired from the old parties be-
cause they were led by conviction to
follow the banner of the new. They
had taken their political lives in their
hands, and In addition were paying
their expenses to come to this gather
ing. They were not office holders,
hangers-on, or any other sort of peo-
Pile to whom It was a sort OF profess
sional necessity. that they attend the
gathering. They came because they
wanted to; that was all.
The convention lacks spice, simply be-
cause there is no big fight over any
thing. There is some contention about
the race issue, and some difference of
opinion as to the policy that should be
pursued in picking a Vice President.
The policies of the situation, as viewed
by Roosevelt, demanded that Southern
Democrat go on for second place. But
the truth stands. that the delegates here
Southern as well as Northern, in the
main-want Hiram johnson. of Califor-
nia They don't care whether he comes
fro.-. East or West, North or South.
though a Western man, for exactly the
same reasons that the West and the
South want Roosevelt, despite that he is
an Fastener.
johnson the Right Man.
Roosevelt is wanted because he is the
right man; Johnson is wanted for exact
t., a.
host Of admirers. They don't want to
be sectional. and they insist that to nom-
mate a weaker man for sectional rea-
sons, would be to revert TO another per-
formance in the same old sectionalism
that has weakened both the old parties.
johnson, Col. J. NJ. Parker. Of New
Orleans, James r. Garfield. of Ohio.
Henry Allen. Of Kansas, Judge Ben
Lindsay, of Colorado, and others are all
to have a serious following save John
son. His name was cheered with the
greatest enthusiasm whenever II was
mentioned in the convention. He is ac-
counted one of two or three men with
out whom there would have been no
Progressive party.
This convention gathering is differ
ent from others. There were a great
many women in spectators seats-wom-
en- who had paid, too. for the privilege
of being there. Many marched to the
hall In groups, with yellow votes for
women" pennants across their breasts
or carried in their hands. The men and
women alike wore red bandannas, and
the bandanna Wed with the yellow suf-
frage badges for predominance in the
color scheme Among the delegates was a
number OF women delegates who at
tracted much attention. Jane Adams,
deiegate-at-large from Illinois; was
cheered repeatedly bv people who dis
covered her In her seat.
AL. Backed by the People.
Most of the men who were elected by
popular primaries to be delegates to
the June Republican convention, were
again delegates today. No accurate es-
innate of this number has yet been
made. but II is believed that 60 per
cent and, perhaps. rs, or the delegates
from Pennsylvania, Nebraska. Califor-
MIA, Ohio, Minnesota, New Jersey, H.
linois, and other primary states, who
sat in the former convention, are here
today as full -fiedged Progressives. This
is one OF the most significant things
about the gathering, for these same
delegates are unanimous in saying that
they are here because their people want
them to be and are ready to back them
in their course.
The decorations of the hall were pc
culiarly interesting. Five statesmen
eminent in the past of American poll
tics were represented by big paintings
and a curious group they were. to ap.
pear as patron saints of any one po-
litical party. They were Washington
and Lincoln, Jefferson and Hamilton
and Andy Jackson. And these former
Republicans cheered for Jefferson with
as much zest as for Hamilton. perhaps
more. This seems to be a convention
that wants Jeffersonian principles ol
democracy crystalized into Hamiltoniar
methods of effective administration
That seems, indeed, to be Just about
the idea of this whole movement.
Platform a Problem.
Making a platform for the new party
has not proved by any means easy. NJ
trouble finding things to put in 1t. On'
amiable gentleman appeared before the
committee on resolutions, and made ap
lproximately these observations: fThii
declaration must be crisp, short, pointed
classic in composition and style, tho
sort of declaration that will one day bt
remembered as a new Proclamation o.
independence. You gentlemen have
made it several times too long. Also
you have left out several important mat
ters that l have drafted into planks and
desire to urge upon you"
This In perfect good faith, trying e
add a few hundred words more to al
| address already long enough to require
an hour in reading, while at the same
time protesting against verbosity anc
length. There was no intention or taik
Ing in the platform about the race Is
sue, but even that threatens possibil
ity of commanding some attention, ow
ing to the sharp differences that have
arisen about 1t.