Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1912-07-25

tion at Chicago last month failed to
see how clearly the line ran between
the two factions, and it was and still
is absolutely irreconcilable. They can
not be recOnciled. We cannot live to-
gether; one or the other must prevail.
The existing party must become all
one thing or all the other, or a new
party must come where members all
think alike. All thinking men see that
the present leadership of the Repub-
lican party does not represent the
rank and file of that party. Either it
must go or we must.
There is but one of three courses
open to a Republican in the present
state of political affairs: First, con
tinue in the party and support Mr.
Taft, the nominee of the fraudulent
convention held at Chicago in June
last; second, leave the party and sup
port Governor Wilson. the Democratic
nominee at Baltimore, or, third, go
into the progressive movement which
must ultimately lead to a third party
or the publication of the present Re
publican party by the elimination of
the boss element now dominating it.
A new party Is not made in a day. 1t
Is a growth. Fremont and Dayton did
not succeed in 1856, but they laid the
foundation for success in 1860. Old
political methods and ideals do not ap-
peal to the voter today The moral or
ethical side of public life has a greater
hold on the people than the partisan
system or methods.
The Parting of he Ways.
No man is bound to recognize the ac-
ton of the convention held at Chicago
as legally or morally binding 1t was
dominated from its beginning by the
clearest purpose on the part of the ma
tional committee to control a majority
by fraud. In making up the tempo
rary roll that committee simply seated
enough delegates with those elected
from nOn-Republican states to make a
majority. The larceny was not hidden
nor attempted to be hidden. 1t was
done openly. They declared their pur-
pose to do it, and they did it. If an
election board in Newark, Jersey City
or Atlantic City make a false return
we indict and convict them, but no
election or canvassing board ever per-
petrated clearer fraudulent returns
than this committee did in putting on
the temporary roll certain delegates
not elected. And that was called a
Republican convention! Every sure
Republican state in that convention
was against Mr.. Taft. They made no
defense of the theft on the floor of
the convention because they could not.
They cut off all debate by motions to
lay on the Nble, which their chairman,
if there was not roll call, always de-
clared carried; if there was roll call
they carried the motion by the votes of
the*r fraudulently seated delegates.
The platform adopted by the conven-
ton is without the least hope of any
advance. 1t does not advocate one of
manded by the people. 1t does not in
1orse the proposed amendment for
electing United States senators by the
people 1t does not promise to strength
en- the interstate commerce commits
sion as to rate making or to enact laws
permitting that commission to make a
physical valuation of the property Of
railways and other pubic utilities to
furnish a basis for fixing rates. II does
not condemn the obnoxious commerce
court 1t declares no fixed cOnserva-
ton policy as to the water power or
mining property of the 9ati0n. 1t is a
Spineless platform of platitudeS. 1t
can be read either way and mean the
same thing. Under it any reacti0nary
policy can be done and still be claimed
to be within it. On the tariff il does
not meet popular expectation, but it
Sm0therS revision under a lot of words
about investigation and tariff board
reports, which shows clear intent to
deceive the people. The states which
made the nomination of Mr.. Taft are
those which will not give him a single
electora! vote, and coupled with these
were the territory of Hawaii and Por-
to Rico, Alaska and the Philippine Is
lands, where the people have no vote
at all. The steam roller ran at Chi
cago to exceed the speed limit, crush
ing out every man who represented
the popular vote at the primary and
the voice of all the delegates from the
every sure Republican state. Whom
the gods would destroy they first make
mad
Thus the end came. and none of the
progressive delegates approved it. They
simply sat silent. The last national
Republican conventiQQ has been held.
The people see it prostituted to the
base designs of scheming men, and
they will turn their faces to the light
OF the rising sun. In Orchestra hall,
Chicago, on Saturday na,ht, June %,
with an enthusiasm | have never seen
equaled, the progressive movement was
launched. Over 400 delegates from
the sure Republican states were pres
ent. convention to nomin5Se tick
ct to be supported by all progressives
has been called to meet in Chicago on