Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-08-15
IT'S ROOSEVELT
.s AND JOHNSON
Progressive Party Names Two First
Candidates 10 lis History.
WERE NOTIFIED AND ACCEPTED
pr.ns aNstIonaI" in Name of New
Political Body, 10 prcpped-Plat-
form Adopted onits Negro
Question.

CHRISTIAN 6OlOleE, anu Inv
Hymn OF the Republic, /" the delegates
TO the first national convention OF the
Progressive party proclaimed Theo
dore Roosevelt of New York as theiT
candidate for president and Gov. Hir'
am w. Johnson OF California as their
choice for vice-president.
Marking new departure in the
proceedings OF national conventions,
the two candidates Immediately were
informally notified OF their nomina-
ton, and in the midst of deafening
cheers appeared before the delegates
to voice their acceptance and to pledge
their best efforts to the coming cam
paign.
The party formally christened itself
THE Progressive Party" leaving out
the prefix national" by which 1t has
heretofore been known, but provision
was made for the recognition of real
Progressives in any Of the states by
whatever name they should be locally
designated because OF state laws.
Debated over Recess.
AS has always been the case in ma
tionaI political conventions, the bulk
of the work OF the Progressive gath
ering was carried on in the commit
tees The only semblance of conflict
of opinion on the floor was brief de-
bate as to whether an hours recess
should be taken. The point was not
material, but as one delegate ex-
pressed 1t, I'VE just had to fight about
something to make 1t regular conven-
tion."
There was sharp discussion, how
ever, in several of the committee
meetings and no little difficulty in
agreeing upon the platform as finally
adopted. Col. Roosevelt worked with
the subcommittee in charge of the
platform until late in the afternoon,
going over their work Of the two pre-
vious days and nights, and vigorously
helping to mold the craft which at
last proved acceptable to him. @
No Negro Plank.
The platform did not take up the
negro question. In that connection
one of the interesting siseconding
speeches Of the day was that Of F. r.
Gleed OF New York, a negro. Gleed
declared that the negroes had faith
in the new party; faith that it would
, do all in its power to right the wrongs
Of the race.
I'VE stand by the platform" he
! said. 1--WE stand by Col. Roosevelt's
letter; we stand by his speech. And
as we stood by him at San Juan Hill.
so we will stand by you in November
and fight for victory
Gov. johneon's Atceptahce.
There was a prolonged demonstrA'
ton as Col. Roosevelt concluded his
brief speech accepting the nominal
ton. 1t was. renewed when Gov. John.
son was introduced. He said:
"Itjis with the utmost solemnity, the
deepest obligation, that / come to tell
you that have enlisted for the war.
"Enlisting as have in that contest
for humanity that desired government
ally to make men better rather than
to make men richer, there is no ques-
ton Of course but that of necessity |
must accept any place where ! may
be drafted, and that accept such a
place as you have accorded me in the
nations history today (because again
you are making history in this land)
that / accept it with grateful heart and
with the utmost singleness Of pur-
! pose, to carry out as well as | may
the little that may be my part to dc"
Platform is Presented.
When the secOnding speeches ended
! Chairman Beverage recognized Will
liam Draper Lewis, chairman Of the
resolution committee, to present the
platform. A round of applause greeted
the reading OF the direct primary,
initiative, referendum and recall
planks. The woman suffrage plank
was roundly cheered. The recall OF
judicial decisions plank received g
scattered cheer. Jury trials in con-
tempt OF court cases and q restriction
Or the use of the injunction In labor
disputes recommended in the platform
were received by the cOnyeation with
enthusiasm.
1 The prohibition Of child labor and
1.-THE liking OF = minimum wage scale
f0f women, which formed another
plank, were given q hand. ase
= Lewis fnisksd reading the platform
at B!ys BTI6ck ana Demonstration
began But Senator Beteridgs cut 4
short and the platform was adopted
without q dissenting voice lS
Then Beverage. stepping to the
front Of the platform, aHnounced the
adjournment Of the convention Nth
out delay"
And thus ends." he said, zone Of
the three most notable occasions q
the conntrys history" Ais1 z
. 1 ~ 4 + -. al.