The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-18

refused even to make bow. Il am a
newspaper man tonight he explained
Colonel Roosevelt spoke as follows:
The Colonel's Speech.
My friends and fellow citizens:
address you as my fellow Republicans,
but also and primarily address you
as fellow Americans, fellow citizens,
for this has now become much more
than an ordinary party fight. The is
sue is both simpler and larger than
that involved in the personality of any
man or than that involved in any
factional or in any ordinary party
contest. We are standing for the great
fundamental rights upon which all
successful free government must be
based. We are standing for elemen-
tary decency in politics. We are fight
ing for honesty against naked rob-
berry; and where robbery is concerned
the all important question is not the
identity of the man robbed, but the
crime itself
LAS far as Mr.. Taft and 1 are per-
sonally concerned it little matters
what the fate of either may be. But
with Mr.. Taft's acquiescence or by his
direction and in his interest, his fol-
lowers have raised an issue which is
all important to this country. 1t is
not partisan issue; it is more than
a political issue; it is a great moral is
sue. If We condone political theft, if
we do not resent the kinds of wrong
and injustice that injuriously affect
the whole nation, not merely our dem
ocratic form of government. but our
civilization itself, can endure. If the
methods adopted by the national
committee are approved by the con-
Vention which is about to assemble
a great crime will have been commit
ted. The triumph of such proceed
ings at the moment would mean
the wreck of the Republican
party, and if such proceed
ings become -habftuaT it would mean
a1r =
Tactitians of the Taft leaders in the ma
tional committee, taken with the ac-
tive aid of Mr.. Taft's private secre-
tary and of Mr.. Tafts cabinet Off
GERS, are monstrous, and they should
be Indignantly concerned blythe NOR
al sentiment of the whole country. To-
night We come together to protest
against a crime which strikes straight
at the heart of every principle of po-
litical decency and honesty, a crime
which represents treason to the peo-
pie and the usurpation of the SOW
ereignty of the people by irrespon-
sible political bosses inspired by the
sinister influences of moneyed privi
lege. We here in this hall are engaged
not only in fight for rights of every
decent Republican, but of every de-
cent American, whatsoever his party
may be. And, oh, my friends, for one
thing at least we should be profound
ly grateful We are more fortunate
than our fathers in that there is no
slightest tinge of sectionalism in the
fight we are waging. The principles
for which we stand are as vital for
the south as for the north. for the
east as for the west. We make our
appeal to all honest, far-sighted and
patriotic Americans, no matter where |
they may dwell.
Feared No Opposition to Taft.
When in February last / made up |
my mind that it was my duty to en- |
ter this fight it was after long and |
careful deliberation. I had become |
convinced that Mr.. Taft had definitely |
and completely abandoned the cause |
of the people and had surrendered |
himself wholly to the biddings of the |
professional political bosses and of |
the great privileged interests standing |
behind them. 1 had also become con- |
WINGED that unless / did make the |
fight it could not be made at all and !
that Mr.. Tafts nomination would /
come to him without serious opposi- |
ton.
The event has justified both my
beliefs. I very earnestly ask our fell |
low progressiVes who have supported /
other candidates to remem Der that |
one of the cardinal principles of the |
doctrines which we hold in common is |
our duty normally loyalty and in good |
faith to abide by the well thought out |
and honestly expressed action of a |
majority. The overwhelming major |
ity of the Republican progressives has |
declared for me- 1t has become clear !
beyond the shadow of doubt that if |
had not made the progressive fight |
1T would have completely broken down /
and there would have been no sub |
stantial opposition to the forces of re-
action and of political crookedness.