The Detroit times., 1912-11-11

goes TO press the returns indicate
that Governor Wilson has been elect
Cd president by a minority vote.
This is not what The North Amer
lean has fought for with unceasing
zeal during the last three months,
though at all times our hopes for the
election OF Colonel Roosevelt have
outrup our expectations.
II Is not now time 20 forecast the
course OF the next national admin
istration nor to discount its policies.
We believe that this campaign has
| mud results more important and more
| far-reaching than the election or
president, whatever his course may
be.
Despite the fact that Roosevelt ap-
parently has not achieved the almost
superhuman and won the presidency,
the chief result OF the election has
been a tremendous victory for the
Progressive party. The election or
It's national candidates was too much
10 expect OF a party which Is hardly
Ave months old. and which has had
national organization for but three
months.
The election OF the Democratic
candidate for president Is but a mega
tive result SO far as there seems any
possibility or its affecting the march
of political progress In the nation.
On the other hand. the placing OF the
Progressive party on q firm basis as
one OF the great national parties Ia
positive result, weighted with the
assurance OF a truer and better rep
resentative democracy OF q genuine
IL. 81 hn fPFan nv
OF the invisible government. which IL
1.-THE alliance between corrupt business
and corrupt politics; OF conservation
OF national resources for the use or
all the people; or the conservation
OF human resources by laws to lift
the burden from backs oyerladen, 10
, protect women In industry and to re-
store childhood to the child.
Six months ago these aspirations OF
the common man were represented
only by a vague unrest, dissatisfac-
ton with the two old political parties
expressed In uncertain predictions OF
new alignment that seemed TO be
In the too distant future. Today these
aspirations are embodied In mill
tant, aggressive, nationwide party.
The realignment has taken place
the nation.
Four years ago Mr.. Taft was elect
ed by the largest vote ever given to
a candidate for president. He went
into ONCE with q commission from
the people OF the nation OF carry out
the progressive policies which had
been inaugurated by Theodore Roose-
welt.
Because he was believed to repre-
sent peculiarly the national sentiment
back OF those policies, Mr.. Taft car
ried with him into the White House
the good will OF larger portion OF
the public than had any man who mad
been elected president since the days
of James Monroe. Even the leaders
and voters OF the opposition party
shared this sentiment For the great
majority or the Democratic party, too,
was imbued with progressive aspira-
lions, and the country looked for a
progressive administration.
The history Of the Taft administra,
ton n one OF the saddest chapters In
American political annals. be be-
trsyal OF the peoples trust was fol-
lowed by rising tide Of the peoples
righteous wrath. This was particu-
larry intense among the rank and hle
OF the Republican party, the men who
had made Mr.. Taft president
The people OF the party we're pro-
greesiye, The bosses who had seized
the party machinery and the little
army Of retainers who served them
were Tories. With the approach OF
| the primary campaign the issue be-
came clearly drawn. Was the Repub-
lican party to fulfill its high mission
OF service to humanity? Was II to be
an instrument of government by the
peoplef Or was II TO become q ma
chine for the defeat OF popular gov
eminent and for the exploitation OF
humanity by predatory wealth? The
voters answered the question in the
primaries wherever they had an OPP
portunity. In the twelve states where
there was free expression they decid-
ed by votes varying from 40 to / TO
to that the Republican party was
to be progressive.
But the bosses, the corrupt political
allies Of corrupt business, overthrow
the Judgment Of the people. The Re-
publican party was delivered bound
to the powers OF plumber and oppres-
sion. Then the Progressive party
was born
After q threemonths' campaign that
party has run second In a presiden-
tial race. II has polled millions OF
votes. IL has spread into every state
IN the union. II has carried great,
populous states, hitherto rock-bound
in their allegiance to the Republican
party II has destroyed the Repubn-
can party despite it's splendid tradi.
lions and ell the memories that cling
around them. The Progressive party
has taken up those traditions. II now
stands aggressive. militant, organ
ICED, compact, ready to carry on the
battle for humanity, for genuine gov