The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-12-12
SHALL THE TAIL WAC THE DoGy


It is quite evident from the abor-
tive effort at reconciliation made in
Washington Saturday that the Stand
pat Republicans will have TO eat a
good deal of humble pie before their
Progressive brothers will notice their
overtures for peace. The visit to
" ashington of the Republican Gov
ernors who have been attending the
Governors conference In Richmond
vas considered favorable oppor-
unity for taking counsel together,
aid the discussion that occurred,
while indicating that both sides real
ize the advisability of getting TO-
sether shows that the ProgressiYcs
are in no mood to make any conces-
SONS just now If the movement was
the deep-laid plan" of Senator'S
Crane and Penrose, as the Progress
i've New York organ declares, and
Senator Cummins and others of indie
pendent tendencies were crafty
used as cats paws, it only deron-
strated that the seceders have lost
rome of their self-confidence and on
compromising spirit. Senator Din
on serves notice. on all whom 1t nay
concern that the new party is in nat
ional politics to stay and the only
way in which the Standpatters can
make peace with it is to accept :ts
doctrines and submit tosits authority
When men get it out OF their heads
he says, that the Progressive party
is not faction OF the old Republ-
can party, but a fully equipped, milf
tant political organization with a dis
tinct program of its own, this talk
o. reorganization OF the Republican
party will come to an end. :"
Governor Hadleys proposition to
hold national harmony convention
may materialize later, but at present
it looks very much as II 1t will result
in the same sort of harmony that pre-
walls between the lion and the lamb
when they lie down together with the
lpmb in the lions stomach. Wis
should the Progressives with heir
riillions OF votes parley with the,
Standpatters with their corpora's
guard? And the suggestion that the
must eliminate Colonel
Roosevelt must Danish their chief
tain from the camp-before the old
line Republicans will consent TO ne+
gotiate, may well provide the Iis'
bilfties of those to whom it is made.
only thing left for the Standpailars
to do is to secure such generous
terms Of surrender as the victors can
be induced to grant. They are nGN
practically political outlaws ana
have no authority as a party and no
standing with the people. Logically
the Progressives should have no
blace in the political scheme If Demo
Gratis live up to their principles. Eut
they are as a matter OF fact still very
much alive and whatever new align
ments they may make, or amerd
ments they may add to their present
they cannot be ignored IN
future calculations. The confereE. e
they are to hold in Chicago tomorrow
may develop their purposes even
more definitely than they have al
ready been outlined burt it is not
likely to hold out any particular EN-
couragement to the old Republican
leaders who have been left with 4
name but no following by the re-
cent election
Whatever it may be called, an
alert and aggressive opposition will
be the best stimulus to and the real
friend Of the Democratic party. Notn-
ing could SO surely make for success
as the necessity of facing the c?iti-
cism OF vigilant and resourceful
foe ready to take advantage of every
blunder and lapse from political viz
the.
The Democratic party might pos
sibly afford to go to sleep in the pres
ence OF Taft-Aldrieh Republicanism
l. must keep it's eyes open and its.
purposes and policies clean and
sound In the presence Of more
watchful and up-to-date enemy.
Sun