The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-08-08
TELLS OF PARTY'S
AIMS AND IDEALS
Speech Of Senator Beveridqe as
Temporary Chairman of Pro.
gressive Convention.
new POLITICAL ERA IN SIGHT
Wiser craftsmanship and Freer Rule
Of the People Declared to Be the
Object Of the Movement-Le-
Ultimate Business Interests
Not to Be Disturbed.

Not to BE Disturbed.
Chicago, Aug. Ex-senator Albert j.
Beveridge Of Indiana, on assuming the
temporary craftsmanship of the Pro-
gressive national convention, deliver
ed the speech which is recognized as
embodying the aims of the new party.
His address, in effect, was as follows:
We stand for nobler America. We
stand for an undivided nation. We
stand for a broader liberty, fuller
Justice. We stand for social brother
hood as against savage individualism.
We stand for an intelligent co-opera-
ton instead of a reckless competition.
We stand for mutual helpfulness in
stead Of mutual hatred. We stand for
equal rights as fact of life instead Of
catchword of politics. We stand for
the rule Of the people as practical
truth instead Of a meaningless pre-
tense. We stand for a representative
government that represents the peo-
pie. We battle for the actual rights Of
man.
The people living in this land Of
gold are the most daring and resource
full on the globe. Coming from the
hardest stock Of every nation Of the
old world their very history in the new
world has made Americans peculiar
people in courage. initiative, love Of
justice and all the elements Of indie
pendent character.
And, compared with other peoples,
we are very few in numbers. There
are only ninety millions Of us, scat
tered over a continent. Germany has
sixty-tlve millions packed in country
very much smaller thin Texas. The
population of Great Britain and Ire.
land could be set down in California
and still have more than enough room
for the population of Holland. If this
country was as thickly populated as
Belgium there would be more than
twelve hundred million ms cad of only
ninety million persons within our bor-
ders.
As Conditions Should Be.
So We have more than enough to
supply every human being beneath the
flag. There ought not to be in this
republic single day of bad business,
a single unemployed workingman,
single unfed child American business
men should never know an hour of un.
certainty, encouragement or fear;
American workingmen never a day of
low wages, idleness or want. Hunger
should never walk in these thinly peo-
pied gardens of plenty.
And yet in spite of all these favors
which providence has showered upon
us, the living Of the people is the prob
lem of the hour. Hundreds of thou
sands Of handwriting Americans find
1t difficult to get enough to live on
The average income of an American
1aborer Is less than $500 a year. With
this he must furnish food, shelter and
clothing for a family.
Women, whose nourishing and pro-
lection should be the first care of the
state, not only are driven into the
mighty army Of wage-earners, but are
forced to work under unfair and de.
grading conditions. The right of a
child to grow into a normal human be-
ing is sacred; and yet. while small and
poor countries, packed with people,
have abolished child labor, American
mills, mines, factories and sweatshops
are destroying hundreds Of thousands
Of American children In body, mind
and SOUL
At the same time men have grasped
fortunes in this country so great that
the human mind can not comprehend
their magnitude. These mountains Of
wealth are far larger than even that
lavish reward which no one would
deny to business risk or genius.
On the other hand, American bust
ness Is uncertain and unsteady COM
pared with the business of other ma
tons. American business men are the
best and bravest in the world, and vet
our business conditions hamper their
energies and chill their courage. We
have no permanency in business af-
fairs, no sure outlook upon the bust.
ness future. This unsettled state of
American business prevents 1t from
realizing for the people that great and
continuous prosperity which our coun-
try's location. vast wealth and small
population justifies.
Reforms Projected.
We mean to remedy these condi.
lions. We mean not only to make
prosperity steady. btu to give to the
many who earn 1t just share of that
prosperity steady, but to give to the
who do not earn it to take an unjust
share. The progressive motto is "Pass
prosperity around" To make human
living easier. to free the hands of hon.
est business, to make trade and com.
merce sound and steady. to protect
womanhood, save childhood and re-
store the dignity of manhood--those
are the tasks We must do
What. then. is the progressive an
swer to these questions? We are able
to give it specifically and concretely
The first work before us is the roviva,
of honest business For business 's