The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-09-26
I Progressive Greed
By Winston Churchill

consented to run for Governor of
New Hampshire on the Progress
sive ticket. His letter of accep-
lance closes with this definition of
the <'Progressives' Creed"
1t has rapidly been growing ap-
parent that no political party can
continue to exist half corporation
and half free. The time was bound
to arrive when all the people who
think. alike, who are weary of the
political corruption which stained
the nation With dishonor, who are
hafassed by the high cost of living,
would unite to form a new party.
That party has come.
And over it's door are written
these words: No Admittance to
Bosses Teachers, farmers, work
tinglmen and women, doctors, bust
ness men who are determined to
nave business honesty, clergy
men and educators are Aocking to
it's standard. The great popular
universities are behind it.
The people of the United States.
Tor two reasons, have come to hold
political platforms in Just con-
tempt. The first reason is because
the old parties, Democratic and
Republican, are composed Of heter-
ogeneous, conflicting elements.
let platforms declare what they
may, the Cannons, Aldriches, Pen
roses and Roots are not going to
let the people rule if they can help
It,; And OF what value, it may be
asked, is a Democratic platform
when it depends for it's realization
on the aid Of Tammany Hall, on
the Sullivans and Taggarts, the
Belmonts and the Ryans, the Dem
oeratic Representatives and Sena-
tors who serve the Southern manu-
t f29tgPpg iptfESsSts AND 81 The Bf monsy
The second reason why plat
forms are distrusted is because the
planks are largely compromises be-
tween men of opposing ideas, con-
tanning "jokers" inserted by clev-
er corporation lawyers, or else the
quack remedies of politicians. !.
The national Progressive plat
form adopted at Chicago differs
from the platforms of either Of the
Old prominent parties because Cd
it embodies the desires and honest
intentions Of men and women who
work in harmony for a. common
cause-viz., social democracy, and
CD it is the concrete expression of
the thought of the foremost econ
omists and political scientists in
America.
Its recommendations may be
found in the published writings
Of such authorities as Tussig and
Ely,! heads of the departments of
economics at Harvard and Wiscon-
sins Kirciway and Lewis, deans of
the law schools of the great 'univer-
stiles Of Columbia and Pennsylva-
MIA, and Goodnow, professor Of adj
mnlStratlvc law in Columbia. It
IS the most" concrete and practical
programme Of modern social demo-
cracy ever put forward, the result
of the years of thought of the ablest
students of social conditions in the
land.
1t IS a covenant with the people
made by men who are not politi
clans. Corporation lawyers have
had no hand in it, 1t is bitterly
opposed by all who are beneficiaries
Of wrongful special privilege,
both in the Democratic and Rcpub-
lican parties.
The new party knows neither
East nor West, North nor South,
nor does it contain in it's mtmber-
ship, to be pandercd and placated,
any bipartisan Tammanies, Bar
nescS, Coxcs and Lor,niers; neither
will it suffer the Aldriches, Pen
roses, Payncs, nor Cannons to
march within its ranks. 1t is a
free party.
And if the people will accept
It's covenant it intends to put an
end to those wasteful, archaic,
" sink or swim policies Of govern
ment which have resulted in the
s1uandering Of the inheritance and
III the wasting Of the lives of 50
many of our citizens.
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