Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-07-26
SENATOR MEYER
A REPUBLICAN

Declaring that the progressive cause
Will fare better through it's advocates
staying in the ranks Of their party
tiian it could through the formation
OF any third party, Senator W. +.
Meyer has made known to his friends
his determination to stay in the re-
publican party. Mr.. Meyer attended
the national convention ut Chicago
and returned in 4 disgusted frame of
mind. Since that time he has been
III "hot water" receiving urgent
messages from various politicians
who desire his cooperation in the
third party movement and from others
who believe it best to stay in the par
ty. In an interview with Il Journal
representative Mr.. Meyer had the
following to say:
The bitter pre-cOnventiOn fight in
republican ranks, the result ut Chi
cago, disappointing and disastrous to
the progressive wing, and the forma-
tion OF new party by Colonel Roose-
welt have left the mind Of the average
republican progressive i'll much con
Fusion and uncertainty. The thing Of
which am most certain, though, is
that am as much, if not more, of a
progressive now than | was before
the Chicago convention.
This experience, or state of mind.
! 90 iu hal Il i,,n l,,,
progressives. The uncertainty, the
question that troubles, is what action
for the good and promotion OF the
cause is the better to take? Shall we
join in the new party movement, or
continue to fight the battles in the old
party? Which course is going to be
most helpful to the cause?
"rO me it seems self evident that
the ablest and most effective cham
pions Of progressivism in our official
life have been republicans. La Fol
lette. Cummins, B0rah. Beveridge,
Brown, Bristow, Poindexter and
others have done valiant and telling
service along the. lines in the United
States senate. Governors Hadley,
Osborn, Aldrich, Johnston. Stubbs,
Deneen, McGovern and others as
chief executives Of their respective
commonwealth have done yeOman
service in 81 wing virile expression to
progressive principles in word and
deed. Aud no thinking, discerning
man can doubt that the republican
states, with the possible exception of
New York. are progressive.
'In our own county Of Carbon the
republican party is overwhelmingly
progressive. The same proved true
in nearly all the eastern counties of
the state in the last state convention.
Indeed, even in the absence Of u di-
rect primary. Montana can and should
make its fall state convention pro-
progressive if proper work is done
and care is taken.
'In view of all this work accom-
plished and the present favorable pro-
gressive condition and situation OF
the republican party, notwithstand-
ing the Livingston and Chicago con-
ventiOns, the conclusion seems in
evitable that it is for the best inter-
ests of their cause that the repub-
lican progressives stay by the repub-
lican party and work out it's saliva
tion within the old party organiza-
tiOn.
''DOubtless it is the consideration
Of these facts that serves to keep the
large number of the prominent ma
tlonal progressive leaders with the
party and restrains them from join
ing the new party and think it suf-
ficient to keep local progressive re-
publicans in line, hopeful and expect
ant of better results than can within
reason be expected from disintegra-
ton and separation