Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-13
Striking Features of Progressive Con-
ference.

portland Express & AdVertiser)
Two striking things. among others.
occurred in Chicago yesterday. both
having some bearing upon the politi-
cal situation in the State of Maine.
One was the repeated and insistent
demand of Col. Roosevelt that the
voice of the people as expressed
through the primaries, should be
needed. In this Col. Roosevelt to-
gether with his soundest minded fol-
lowers in Maine, is consistent. If the
laws are to be made and executed by
the direct vote of the people, if the
constitution is to be changed by 2
majority, surely the voice of the peo-
pie should be supreme in nomina-
lions. He will therefore be inconsis-
tent if any there be, who, as Pro-
eressive member of the Maine Legis-
lature refuses to heed the voice Of
the people as expressed in the Maine
primaries at which he himself was
nominated. The demand of eonsis-
tency in upholding the direct primary
is now enforced by the unqualified
demand of the man who made the
Progressive party possible.
The second striking thing which
has some application TO the situation
in Maine was the demand, put forth
not only by Col Roosevelt but by
most of the speakers who addressed
the unique conference, voiced by Col.
Roosevelt as follows: The imme-
date work for our party is to estab-
lish the principles of our platform
by proper legislation in the Nation
u nd in ha cto h6.
Presidential campaign, this newspaper
asked, in good faith. for the Maine
Progressives to point out spe-
cifically what it is that they desire
in legislation which the Republican
party has not given to the State or is
not ready to give. The important
work of the Progressive party is TO
Secure, in the states the embodiment
of their principles in legislation. It
has been fcrestalled in Maine.
If members of the Maine Lcgisla-
ture who are devoted to the new par
ty are to undertake to follow Col.
Roosevelts advice and promptly in
troduce into the Legislature, when it
convenes next month, bills intended
To promote the doctrines of the Pro-
sressive party, what win those meas
ures be? Wherein do they expect to
do more to promote social or indus
| trial justice than has already been
done or to which the Legislature of
1913 is not pledged by the Republic
can platform? If there is nothing to
struggle for in Maine, what sense
| can there be in continuing to strug
| gle? The man who has made siren
uous physical endeayor to kick al
nothing at all has experienced a re-
action, discomforting. to say the
least, to himself. If we admit, foi
the sake of argument, that needs ex,
list for legislation in Idaho or New
| York or Texas, which require this
| exercise of the continued fightins
propensities of the Progressives /
does not follow that men who are en-
gagged in the same battle in Main
are not struggling with a man o
straw. nor does ii furnish reason 70
: deadlocking the Maine Legislature
, and preventing its organization alon
the lines voted by the people of tn
State in September, even though /
be felt that National party is nee
4 essary to accomplish Nation wide re
: forms.
. There may be, and manifestly is.
difference Of opinion on that subiec
affti every man has a right to h