The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-06
Ptnchot Defines @. O. p.
Progres,lves VlesUs

NEW YORK, Feb. 6.-Amos Pin
chot, an active Republican progress
sive. brother Of Clifford Pinchot, and
one OF the men who has been uniting
the extreme progressives OF the La
Toilette type and the less radical
Roosevelt supporters. prepared for
the United Press today a statement
Ia which he declared that the pro-
posed withdrawal OF LaFollette as a
presidential candidate, resulted from
the fact that with the senator's
health broken. and his ability as
caH.paigner weakened. not only La
Toilette but the principles for which
he stood were threatened with defeat,
especially in view of the nationwide
clamor for the nomination OF Theo-
dore Roosevelt The Pinchot state
MELT follows:
When last year a small group OF
rrCgressives met at Washington to
discuss placing a presidential candi-
date In the field, we had two definite
ends in view TO bind the progressives
together as an effective fighting
force and TO prevent the nomination
or denomination OF a reactionary
candidate for the presidency,
lican candidate In 1912. party loyalty
and hostility 10 the Democrats In q
great national election would tend 10
weld the progressives and reaction
ary Republicans together so that the
former as an effective fighting unit
would disappear, and the cause OF gov
eminent for the benefit OF the aver
| age man would suffer q serious set
tbacfv--------------
AS to the denomination OF a reac
:ionary we believed that in practically
every case where the interests OF the
average man confiicted with the in
/ terests which is represents. the Tai
administration has regularly lined VI
on the side OF big business and party
! politics.
ION account OF his character and
his great record OF useful public ser
vice, Senator LaFollette was chosen
TO be the candidate. He accepted re
luctantly, only under pressure from
progressive friends. and At grea
personal sacrifice to himself, solely tc
serve the cause for which he has
fought for years
Since our organization started
largely through the, work or LaFol
lette, and the men who we're support
ing him. the political headers have
seen clearly that the only way TO save
the Republican party in 1912>and, to
make IL an instrument TO serve the
average man. is TO nominate pro
gressive candidate FOR the presidency,
Senator IaFollette as factor In the
presidential race has been chiefly re-
sponsible in demonstrating this fact.
His withdrawal from the race sim.
ply means that the progI essives real
ize that owing to the growing demand
for Roosevelt. and owing TO the sena-
tors health, IaFollette cannot him.
self accomplish the purpose which has
az att times meant more 20 him than
mis- individual success. With LaFol'
lette out of the race his followers are
free TO get behind Roosevelt and con-
tinue the old fight with another lead
err Many LaFollette men feel that
| Roosevelt is not as advanced In his
prugrcssfYehess- -I.aEollette- But.
/ however, that may be. X Is clear that
! LaFollette and Roosevelt are agreed
ION most fundamental points and
above all. that they have the same
real conviction that the country be
! longs TO the people, and that its gov
eminent must be an instrument FOL
the peoples benefit.
1T seems entirely plain to me that
Senator LaFollette's withdrawal would
be the only sure means OF uniting all
the =prosressives, OF insnring the nom
ination OF some progressive, and OF
making It possible In 1912 for the
average Republican voter TO cast a
] 4. tY.tn N "a
: the interest OF political aifd-tfftitfstrtsi
/