New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-05
A PROGRESSIVE" RECORD
An Analysis of Deeds Which Belle
the Name.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: VIII you allow me to express my
obligations to your correspondent, Mr.
Garner for his announcement of belief
that men who have been named by grea:
parties for the high office Of President
and are receiving the loyal support OF
such parties should escape being stigma
| tiZed as Benedict Arnolds or Aaron Burrs!
His own candidate has not taken to heart
| this wise view. 1t is pity that no one else
IN this broad land has shown such facility
in applying the epithet liar to those
from whom he differs, no less facility
indeed, than tho illustrious Finn, OF Pitts
burgh, exhibited In shouting Fraud" at
the national convention. Mr.. Garner has
probably noted that not only has Colonel
Roosevelt repeatedly broken into violent
and discourteous denunciation but his
associate on the ticket, Mr.. Johnson, has
vociferously followed his bad example
and denounced the head Of another ticket
that on which the colonel desired his name
to stand, as a very low order Of creature.
That Is, both so-called Progressive can
didates have made such an advance in the
use of vituperative terms that no other
candidate. even IL so minded, could hope
TO keep pace with them. Questioning. as
I do the correctness OF applying the term
progressive" 20 them on general ques-
tons. freely admit that on those lines
Of vituperative oratory they distinctly lead
and will not DO overtaken.
Now. another fact bearing on the colo
ners extreme "progresslyeness." Does
Mr.. Garner recall his denunciation Of Mr..
Tafts giving 20 the public letter writ
ten TO himself (Rooseyelt) making it clear
that Taft had been opposed to Lorimer,
though feeling compelled to withhold su6-
gestions on the subject 10 Senators for
fear they would resent such interference
tho letter given 20 the public TO contro-
vert the coloners assertion that Mr.. Taft
favored and aided Lorimer? Does Mr..
Garner remember that the colonel did not
dispute Mr. Taft's declaration that II
there was anybody living who knew that
he was opposed to Lotimer that man was
Theodore ROOSEVELT Was all that an
evidence OF intense "progressiveness" on
the coloners part?
l. The catalogue OF the coloners rcac-
tIonary ana retrogressive convictions
might DO further extended, especially his
advocacy OF the recall Of judicial de-
cisions-the withdrawal OF the best safe
guards OF the rights Of individuals and
mlnorities but they have been well dis
cussed elsewhere. The colonel's friends
have shown wish TO allow his radical
and revolutionary declarations before the
Ohio Constitutional Convention to be for
gotten. but he, less cautious. from time 10
time renews his attack on representative
government and the courts, declaring that
the people. wise and ignorant are most
competent 10 decide difficult and complex
legal questions, even questions OF con-
struction though the majority Of them
could not comprehend them even were
they to. make profound study OF them.
Cannot Mr. Garner perceive that in the
coloners claim to progressiveness we have
one Of the most colossal shams Of the
century, GEORGE r. BISHOP.
New York, Sept 80. 1912.