The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-11
FORTY THOUSAND REPUBLICANS
FOR WILSON AND MARSHALL

FOR WILSON AND MARSHALL
New York, Oct. S-More than forty
thousand progressive Republicans
have have pledged their support to
Gov. Wilson through the Wilson Ma.
tional Progressive Republican League.
These figures are taken from the en-.
rollment lists Of the League, which
now has headquarters in New York,
Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, Mil
waukee, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.
The organization Of this league. the in
fuence of which will be significant In
the November election, Is the result
of little more than six weeks work.
That It has become nationwide is due
largely to the activities of Rudolph
Spreckles, the wealthy San Francisco
reformer, who has spent the past ten
years in an uncompromising war on
all forms Of graft and governmental
dishonesty; DIR. Harvey w. Wiley, the
Governments former Chief Chemist,
and Senator John J. Blaine, of Wiscon-
sin, law partner of Senator La Fol.
lette and chief aide of the Senator in
his fight for the Republican presiden.
tial nomination. These men, like
many thousands of Senator La Fol-
lette's loyal supporters, we're deeply
disappointed at the failure Of the Re-
publican convention to name pro.
gressive candidate. Not realizing on
the hopes of Senator La Toilette, they
would have been satisfied with q pro-
gressive of the type Of Governor Had.
ley, Of Missouri, or Senator Cummins,
Of Iowa. They declined to follow Col.
Roosevelt out of the Republican party
because they had no sympathy with
the Third Term movement. The fight
to purge the Republican party of its
reactionary element should be made
within the party, they held, and not as
adherents Of the Colonel, who to the
former LaFollette supporters is in no
sense progressive.
oOOu ditCI thc ShiCdSO
Rudolph Spreckles called meeting
of a group of leading progressive Re-
publicans in Chicago. In addition to
DIR. Wiley and Senator Blaine. Mr..
Spreckles consulted with Senator La
Toilette and Louis Brandeis, the noted
lawyer and reformer. They gave their
warm Endorsement of the league move
ment. Other meetings were held in
San Francisco, New York and Chica-
go, the result of which was decision
to support Gov. Wilson because he in
the judgment of the league members,
represented the highest type of pro-
gressive leadership.
Early in September the league was
formally launched and since then an
aggressive campaign has been going
on to crystalize Wilson sentiment
among progressive Republicans
throughout the country. The opening
of the headquarters in New York and
San Francisco was followed by branch
es in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica.
70 and Omaha. In Philadelphia, Mr..
Spreckles enlisted the support of Hen
ry c. Niles, former Pennsylvania State
chairman of the Lincoln party, wide
ly known reformer; Powell Evans, a
manufacturer; Samuel s. Fels, manu-
facturer; Louis J. Kolb, banker; Jas.
A. Devin, banker; Thomas r. Fort, Jr.,
and George Burnham, Jr., all militant
Republicans of the reform type. In
Pittsburgh the league has the support
of e. /. McClintock, George r. Wallace,
l.. c. Woods, DR.. J. p. Shaw, A. Leo
Well, A. M. Thompson, c. ID. Scully
= and DR.. A. s. Hunter, all Of whom were
engaged in the war on graft in Pitts
burgh that uncovered corruption in the
city council there two years ago.
Senator Blaine will direct the work
in the Middle West from Chicago.
while Mr.. Spreckles and DR.. Wiley will
direct the campaign from New York.
Thousands of pieces of literature ex-
planning why Gov. Wilson should re.
ceive the support of progressive Re-
publicans are being sent out from the
various headquarters and new mem
bers are being enrolled at the rate OF
several thousand q week.
At the close Of the present cam
paign It is the intention Of the league
officers to meet in convention In Chi
cago and decide upon the future course
Of the progressives in the Republican
party. The probability of the election
OF Gov. Wilson being strong. In their
belief. they hold that an entire re
!. alignment of the Republican party Ii