Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-07-24
New Party Lines Formed.

men are great or small as they espOuse
or deny the principles for which men
are striving.
Bear this in mind in this hour Of the
death Of the two old political parties,
and the birth Of conservative party on
the one hand and a progressive party
ON the other.' Taft, Roosevelt, LaFol-
| lette, Bryan, Clark, Wilson-these
names are but pawns with which men
deal in large concepts Of government.
They are not for Taft, the man; but for
Taft embodying the undying principle
Of conservatism, and essentially the
same men are for Harmon. and Clark,
and Roosevelt-for Wall Street and Uni
ted States Steel, Standard Oil, and the
Established Order. On the other hand.
men favor La Toilette, Cummins, Bryan,
Wilson, because in them they see en-
bodied those ideals of progress and
justice for which they long have been
looking, and some time striving. The
former naturally group about a con-
sentative center; the latter seek for and
have found progressive leadership. Both
attitudes of mind are understandable,
legitimate, necessary. Both cannot
long continue in the same party at the
same time. Sooner or later the re-
grouping of progressives and conserva-
tives had to come. 1t is taking place!
++$
The Republican party of 1S60-1912
is no more. The name exists, but the
divided councils and vaccillating lead
ership has ceased to be. 1t is now re-
dictionary. 1t has declared itself the
party Of standpattism. 1t has sloughed
| off a certain element, another large fac
ton will leave later on. 1t must take
to itself the homeless stand-patters.
of the old Democracy. Like Gaul Of old
it's voters today are divided into three
parts-those who believe in the princi-
pies OF which Taft is the fitting exem-
plar; those who are ructiOnary; and.
:inally. those whose purposes it is to
| support certain definite principles Of
progress, Irrespective Of party label.
I tt+
The nomination of Taft is entirely in
| place. AS a stand-pat candidate he fits
| the scenery admirably. He Is kindly
| courteous, well-intentioned. The man
| who believes in things as they have
been will find in him a fit leader. And
| whether that mans party label hereto
fore has been Republican or Democrat,
matters nothing-he now belongs by
right of party realignment to the party
Of conservatism, the party of ''let we'll
| enough alone"
| Out of the Baltimore convention
comes newborn Democracy. After
sixteen years Of struggle the progress
sive principle has swept it's boards
clean, written it's virile platform and
nominated a candidate whose record Is
that of a reformer And in passing
be it said that If the new Democracy is
to sweep the nation and restore govern
ment to the people, that to William J.
Bryan belongs large part Of the cred
it. BY laying aside personal ambition
he has held together his party, estab-
lished it's course for the coming days,
and written himself into current his
tory as the one man Of our time who
does not need the presidency to en-
nance his power or his fame. He has
fought a good fight. He has kept the
faith. And in spite of his failings,
which are many. and because of his pas
sionate adherence to the elementary
principles of democracy, he has won a
| victory out of his own triple defeat.
Nor may any man dare say that he has
! finished his course.
tt&
In the Democratic platform and nom-
inee, Privilege can find little of kinship
and sympathy. But in both these the
average voter will find that new spirit
of reform demanded by the progressive
mind. To the kyans. the Belmont's, the
Mccormick the big and little believ-
ers in Things AS They Were, this candi-
date and this platform will appear as
a menace. And such of these as have
carried the badge of Democracy must
lseek shelter behind the sentry lines OF
the opposing camp, their natural con-
federates and allies. There is no room
in the new Republican party for a pro-
gressive; there is none in the new Demo.
cratic party for a stand-patter. While
the division may not be made complete
during this campaign the parting of the
ways has come and a new era in poll.
tics is already here.
80
The nomination of Wilson on a clean
cut platform will test the genuineness
Of Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt say.
he is for progressivism. If he mean:
what he says, he will-he must-with
draw his third-party candidacy ant
throw the support of his followers tt
the progressive candidate. Will HI
question the sincerity of Wilson? Their
what will he say Of Bryan, the dynam,
j, of the new Democracy? Is not Bryan
a progressive? Roosevelt cannot con
, sistently lead progressive party Of mi
own without meeting the charge tina
he has abandoned principles and is fight
ing solely for personal success.
II $$$
;, Nevertheless his third-party move
ment will help to complete the above
recorded revolution. Men clineine t
o the name Republican" will desert Tai
r to vote for another candidate under
; so-called Republican" banner, whe
= they would not because Of sentiment o
r tradition, vote for q Democrat, even tn
n the new Democracy be neither the win
nor the bottle itself Of the old. Th
e new party movement helps to segre
y gate the standpatters into q party G
their own. But beyond that it mean
# nothing save personal ambition and tn
n desire to rule or ruin unless It's leader
l. ally themselves In the new Democrat
2 with those who stand for and ma
re achieve the thing they themselves PR
p TESS.
l. $t$
II If thy desire to do so, Roosevelt
i La Toilette, Cummins, Bristow, Johl