Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1912-07-25
WHOLE NO. 1888

and fraud in our political life. 1t will
be new declaration of industrial and
political independence founded on the
rlght OF the people to rule under the
constitution as our fathers made it.
1t is well that it is to be. The di.
vergence in political belief between
the two factions within the Republic
an and Democratic party is greater
than 1t is between the two parties.
Let the prOgressives of both parties
now unite in a new, aggressive, liberty
ioFlhg peoples party, based ON elstfce
Ior all and special privilege for none.
and the progress of the nation in the
future will equal, if not exceed, the
glories of all that is best in the past.
Inc issue is no longer personal. The
division from now on will be on prin-
aples only. In California, Maine.
Kansas, Noeth Carolina, PENNSYLVANIA.
West Virginia and one or two other
states the Republican organization ia
III the hands of the progressives, and
they will nominate Roosevelt electors
on the regular Republican or a pro-
gressive ticket. Names are of little
| consequence. They will pay no at
tention to the action of the fraudulent
/ Chlcago convention. They do not rec
ognize that convention as binding upon
the party in those states.
| In New Jersey the reactionaries still
hold the organization Except in Hud-
son county,, and our problem, there
fore, is different. We must meet the
| conditions as we find them and unite
In new progressive party inviting all,
whatever their past political differ
ences, to join us in our purpose to re-
pudiate fraud and political trickery
and establish social and political JUS
tice in governmental affairs. In this
there can be no halfway measures. If
we are to succeed, either now or event
ually, and we will succeed eventually
If not now, we must have the courage
of our convictions; we must stand man
fully for what we believe. We must
not fear defeat What difference does
it make in a fight that is based on prin-
ciple whether you win or lose? If the
wrong shall triumph we will not be
esponsible-when one is right he is
never defeated-but we shall not be
defeated. Some have proposed that
the regulars and progressives run the
same set of electors and let the voters
express their preference, and if Mr..
Taft secures the majority he shall have
the vote of the state, and in case Mr..
Roosevelt shall win he shall have its
vote.
A Peoples Fight.
Pray, what does that lead to? That
means that our votes are to be counted
for Mr.. Taft if he shall have a single
vote more than Mr.. Roosevelt in the
balloting That means that my vote
and yours are to be counted in a given
contingency-namely, if Mr. Taft gets
majority-as an Endorsement of the
fraud at Chicago So far as | am con-
cerned, | am unalterably opposed to
such action. l am not willing under
any contingency or combination of
circumstances that Mr.. Taft's nomina-
ton or the men who fraudulently gave
him his alleged nomination shall be
approved. l would not vote for Mr..
Tafts electors if there were no other
electors running, and l would support
any electors on any ticket for any hon
estly nominated candidate, whatever
party name he might bear in prefer
ence to aiding such a result. Public
sentiment in our time does not ap-
prove halfway measures nor COM
promised, fraud indorsed candidate
For myself, l have reached a time of
life when political ambitions do not
trouble me, when no desire for DO
litical preferment animates me, when
only the well being of the nation and
state furnishes basis for political ac-
ton, and l will not join with the men
who stand for personal selfishness and
the success of special interests in pub
lie affairs.
The signs of the times clearly indi-
cate that the people are against these
men and their aims for personal ag-
grandizement and the success of the
special interests. This is a peoples
fight for better things and for a more
just recognition of popular control in
legislation and government. 1t can
not be dOwned, it cannot be put aside,
it cannot be compromised, and it will
not fail. l have great faith in the
American people. All they wish to
know is the facts. They are not self
ish. They are patriotic and love lib
erty. The laborer, the mechanic, the
merchant and the farmer represent
the average citizenship of the republic.
They have No other ambition for their
country than that which gives to every
man an equal opportunity and an even
chance in the race of life. They are
looking for and are ready to follow
honest, disiIterested leadership.
At Chicago on the 9TH of August next
the progressive movement will adopt
its platform and present its candidates,
and with that convention will come the
dawn of brighter and better political
morning