Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-08
ROOSEVELT Will Be NOMINATED
BY THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY At
CHICAGO LATE THIS AFTERNOON
TEXT OF SPEECH
NAMING COLONEL

y Chicago, Aug. 7.-William A. Prem
- e3B,c nf New York, who placed
n e7e1s sevelt's name in nomination
,sp the colonel as the man
courageous" Of American politics and
declared him to be national asset
Mr.. Prendergast said in part:
eve have arrived at the crownine
act of the convention. This great
gathering owes its being to migssts--,
protest by the American people
against those who have poisoned the
wells of democracy. 1t represents the
martial spirit of mankind, that, from
an immemorial time has charged back
upon those who would place obstacles
in the way of the march Of human pro-
gress. While appreciating the stupen-
dous nature of the task before 1t, the
national progressive party declines to
accept the cynical doctrine ascribed
to Napoleon that God Is on the side
Of the heaviest battalions, and pro-
fesses it's sublime faith in the teach
ing of Abraham Lincoln that right
makes might.
''It is inspired with this faith, that
we have undertaken and accomplished
the formation of new party In order
that those who would free the nation
from moribund principles of govern
ment, might within this organization
exercise those traditions of personal
independence which originally gave
the American people their place Of
honor In the family of nations.
"The platform which you have ac-
cepted Is the guarantee of the genuine
ness Of your democracy. It fortifies
every theory of government which has
ever given strength to the American
commonwealth, It says to the Ameri-
can citizen: M
I'VE recognize the social and in
dustrial issues OF the time; we present
remedies for them In a correct ap.
|preciation Of these issues you Will I'm.
derstand the difficulties that beset
you. You cannot expect the relief
you require from either Of the old par
ties because, like Ephratm chained to
his idols they do not dare face those
problems in that spirit that has won
every triumphant concession to human
rights that has marked the history OF
civilization. In the virtue of our cause
we have sterling faith. In the vitality
Of its principles we believe as we do
in the inherent honor of American
manhood. In the great strength which
this movement has already demon
strated and will continue to exhibit
come to those who are borne along
by the impulse OF spiritual convic-
ton.
Sees Colonel as National Asset.
"But while virtuous the cause and
vital the principles and strong the
force behind them, human experience
tells us that their conquertng way will
be slow and diffisult unless their le-
gions are led by one whose spirit Is
their spirit. and whose qualities of
leadership are equal to the task Of
moulding public opinion and establish
ing q new epoch In American history.
Such leadership embraces the genius
OF Washington, the statesmanship Of
a Jefferson, the democracy OF a Lin
coin. 1t is personified in him whose
name it will be my privilege to present
you as the candidate Of this party for
the office of president of the United
States >of America.
my candidate Is more than citi.
zen; he Is a national asset.
I'm this momentous period OF politi-
cal doubt when the nation has to de-
eide whether it will or how 1t will grap-
pie with the great economic problems
of the time, there Is no man in Ameri-
can life who presents such creden-
tials for the task as he.
This candidate has success writ
ten on every page of his official career.
He has fought the most vicious forces
in American life and conquered them.
He surrendered the presidency at a
time when his reelection would have
been q certainty in the hope that
other hands would prosecute success.
fully the task he did not have time
to finish. That task has been treated
with intermittent loyalty and has
largely been left undone. We ask that
the task be again entrusted to him
whose loyalty to principle he has
never faltered and whose breadth of
experience qualified him over all men
for the duty.
''He presents the most striking and
eventful civic career In American his
tory. He is essentially American in
that there is hardly a phase of ma
tional experience which has not felt
the effect Of his personality, through
attrition and association.
Terms Him Brother Of Race.
e'while his early environment would
have justified the easy and slothful
life, the instinct Of democracy led him
into those paths where his country's 8
characteristics could be studied with
profit and his knowledge Of his fellow
man made him the brother Of the race.
Most men work through conven-
tional processes; their habits Of mind
suggest nothing beyond the ordinary
This is true in all walks of life and
those entrusted with public affairs are
no exception to the rule.
Our candidate Is one whose orig.
inality OF thought and directness OF
Continued on Page s.)