The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-19
rHF PRoGREssIvE PARTY.

| From the temper of the leaders in
the movement and the action taken
at the conference in this city on Tues
day, it appears that a bona-fide Pro-
gressive party will soon take its place
in the political arena of Kansas This
is as it should be. There is nothing
of political honesty in men attempt
ing to maintain their membership IN
one party for the prestige it may give
them and also the chance of walking
J into office thereby; and, at the same
time, champion the principles and the
candidates of another and distinctly
different party. Experience taught at
the recent election that the voters are
not of a mind to tolerate such double
shuffIing. Men who have been Repub-
i licans all their lives are assuredly
acting within their prerogatives If
they leave that party and participate
! in the deliberations of another party
| and the promotion of it's interests,
whether it be an old party or new
! one, And for them to acknowledge
openly and above board their new love
shows that they have the courage OF
1 their convictions. 1t entities them to
admiration for their strength of pur-
pose.
There is nothing in common be-
tween the party organized by MI
Roosevelt and now absolutely con-
troIled and dominated by him, and
the Republican party. He says SO
himself. Everybody agrees with his
Judgment in this particular. His fol-
lowers in Kansas, therefore, are only
doing what they should have done
months ago, when they organize
real branch of the Progressive party
in this state. They didn't do II be-
fore election because those among
them who were candidates for otflce
we'll knew that such an action would
have been fatal to their chances OF
success. But, in politics, as in every
thing else, it is better late than new
er. So the Kansas ProgressiVes are at
last worthy of the congratulations OF
all men for their courage in finally
enbarking on the political ocean IN a
new craft, whose seaworthiness has
not been given the test of time. They
may be criticized in some quarters Tor
turning their backs on party that
has treated many of them kindly ana
generously in the past. But TINS Is
free country, at least as far as pontl-
cal activities are concerned. And IL
anv man or number of men decide TO |
Jump from one party to announcer
that's their privilege. 1t is only When |
a man attempts to belong to two par
ties at the same time, for purely sell
fish reasons that he opens hlrnseH 10
a righteous condemnation.
whether all the Kansans who have
abeled themselves as Progressives !
will make the definite break from the |
Republican party and join the new
the bell wether, is a matter for con-
lecture Several of them have politi-
cal ambitions that are dear to their
hearts. The prospects of the Pro-
gressive party reaching anywheres
near it's goal either in Kansas or
throughout the nation in the near fu-
ture are not exceedingly bright. Mr.. /
Roosevelt is the dominant figure in
the party. He was the only candidate
in if at the recent election that made
much of a showing. Right here in
Kansas the election returns show
Dlainly that men voted for Roosevelt
who turned right around and voted
against and defeated candidates for
office who were running on the Re
publican ticket but who were warm
in their professions of allegiance to
the new Progressive party and It's
In Portland, Me-, Mr..
Roosevelt received a large vote on No
vember 5. At a municipal election
held a few weeks later, the Progress
sive party, which was organized in
that city, put a full city ticket in the
field in opposition to tickets of the
regular Democratic and Republican
variety. The Progressive party's can
didate for mayor received only few
hundred votes, scarcely quarter OF
the number that Mr.. Roosevelt re-
ceived a few weeks previously.
These instances seem to show that
the Progressive party is woefully !
weak all over the country except
when it is boosting the presidential
of Mr.. Roosevelt. The
lreamers in its ranks who are fight
ing for certain principles that they
believe to be the panaceas for popu- {
ar government would undoubtedly
stick to the Progressive party as long
as it or they lived, no matter if it
never carried any kind of an election.
They would glory in fighting for what
they believe to be right if no SEM
oIance of rewards came their way.
But such Progressives are not num-
,rous. Most of them are normal p
+icians and as human as their breth-
rem in other parties. They will hest ;
ate about joining or sticking to
party that has small prospects of
achieving a material success.