United labor bulletin., 1912-08-08
The Political Situation as We
See 1t.

fore been known to Americans. There are at this
time least five national political parties any of the
three leading parties having chances to win in the
November election. These parties are The Demo-
cratic, Republican, Progressive Socialist and Pro-
hibition parties and at this writing the Democratic
party apparently has the better chance of winning
the presidency The party is cemented at critical
time in the political history of the nation, and this
fact alone combined with the progressive principles
of the presidential candidate, seems to be sufficient
to call for the greater number of votes IN November
BlN there is another national party that viii
have something to say ere the tally sheets are To-
tailed at the November call. That is the National
Progressive party-the Bull Moose Roosevelt
party. The party, in its Chicago convention
this week illustrated to the people of the nation
that it stands for principle-that human beings anq
happiness are above dollars and successful CONNER
cal activity; that clean living and purity in politics
will be put above graft and trickery to retain con
troll of state and national governments The Ma
tional Progressive party advocates minimum wage
for women the protection of children OF tender
years. and the right of women to organize and to
vote Not only does the Bull Moose party advocate
all these measures, but it also stands for strength
ening the antitrust law, for the regulation OF the
trusts and for their dissolution The party also
stands for an industrial commission, a tariff com
mission and a commercial commission
strongest party at this writing 1t is conceded on
all sides that Taft will second to Roosevelt and
third to Wilson. The Republican party represents
the rich and mighty of the nation and the slap that
the Chicago convention of the Republican party gave
the working people of the country represented D
Samuel Gompers and the American Federation OF
Labor is sufficient to deny Mr. Taft any consides~
able part of the workers votes
Mr. Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt will draw prin-
rty athOuph
conceded that Roosevelt will draw much of the pro-
gressive strength of Mr.. wilson
Nationally the issue is clear cut Taft stands
for the trusts and for the rich, and expects to WIN
through the federal machine and the use OF money
Roosevelt represents ideals, new issues new
purposes he stands for reform in our national gov
ernment: he champions the cause OF the working
women of the nation: he speaks for the children m
industrial life Roosevelt is the mouthpiece of rich
men that have ideals as the goal OF their accom-
plishment As Spreckes used his riches TO prosecute
the grafters in the municipal government. Oh Gan
Francisco and rich philanthroplsts IN New ! orh
are donating thousands to clean out the grafters,
thieves and murderers from the citys munlelpai
affairs so are the rich few behind Roosevelt spend
ing their riches that he may head the national gov
ernment to purify political life and to introduce me
gigantic reforms that were innunciated by me
Rough Rider at the convention of the National FRO
gressive party
Wilson is a progressive. but it is the hope OF
this candidate harmonic the progressves and me
reactionares This course will lose Wilson mucn
,,,nort for II ;s arpued that there is no Tor
harmony between the stand-pat political boss ana
the citizen who desires to progress with the demands
of the times You must either be progressive or
a reactionary. There can be no middle grounu-no
neutral ground on which the boss and the plaIn
citizen NAV meet in compromise. One must either
be sfor' or against progressive principles. and
to seek to harmonize the issue is but to lose the
party's progressive identity. Such course Is
snare and although it may win at time 1t must
eventually fail for want of sincerely.
7, fba cts 10 of Colorado IT Qulte different
Here the Democratic party is divided; here me
Republican party is divided; and here the Progress
sive party stands out strong for the people and the
new principles The Progressive Republican faction
has split the G. O. P. in twain and there is a ques
ton whether not the progressive element VIII
dominate the party in Colorado. Here the progress
sive faction in the Democratic party is making
stand against machine control of the party. The
old organization is running the party nevertheless
and it will be up to the people at the primaries to
saw who shall be the choice of the parties to go on
the ballot at the November election
The Democratic assembly gave Joseph H.
Maupin the high vote for the nomination for gov
ernor but it also gave State Senator Ammons nearly
either one will be the choice of the party at the
primaries. 1t is assured that Thomas lyman viii
allow his to go the primary ticket by peti-
ton and il is believed that the choice of the people
is between lyman and Ammons.
The Bull Moose party has selected Edward T.
Costgan to head the ticket in this state. Mr. Cost-
gan is we'll known to the people of the state and his
election would be victory for the people and would
insure fair administration of the states affairs,
The Republican party has nominated Clifford e.
Parks banker of Glenwood Springs for the office
of governor and he represents the old line politi
clans of the party.
Labor is in the battle this year. and if the two
sl-.,