East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-10-30
WILSON THE PROGRESSIVE ,
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tBy Louis d. Brandeis. Noted Re-
zpublican Lawyer and Supporter of
La Follette)
Governor Wilson possesses the
qualities essential for a great progress
siVe president. He is courageous and
straightforward; he is able and firm
and sound of judgment. He is pa-
lent and open-minded. He is thor
oughly democratic in spirit He rec
ognizes that all of the people are en-
Titled to equal opportunities; and he
appreciates that the DEVELOPMENT of
all of the people is essential to the
tultlllment of our American ideals.
He understands the dangers incident
10 the control of few men of our in
dustries and of our finance. He sees
that true democracy and social and
Industrial justice are ,unattainable.
unless this power of the few be curb
ed, and our democracy becomes in
dustrial as well as political. He can
meet the demands properly made up
on present-day executive, to lead
In constructive craftsmanship, as well
as TO administer efficiently. And his
character, intellectual power, and pre-
vious training fit him peculiarly to
take an important part in progressive
Legislation.
In the progressive movement there
are three necessary periods The first
Is investigation; the second, agitation:
the third, legislation. They are, in
the main, successive periods. but each
overlaps the other to a certain extent.
The work of investigation and of ag-
itation have been largely performed.
Men of insight have discerned and
disclosed the evils existing in our in
dustrial, social and political institu-
tions; and the danger to the common
veal. Men of courage and of emotion
endowed with the dramatic qualities
of the great preacher, have pierced
even that armor of SNUG complaciancy
with which prosperity is apt to en-
velop the heart and head. The SOM
nolent have been aroused; the indif-
ferent have been fired with enthusi-
asm; the timid have at last learned
to fear the evil more than they fear
the evildOer. The eve of victory has
come.
A large majority of the American
people recognize that grave abuses
exist and are anxious to put an end
to them. We progressives are now
sufficient in number to compel the
adoption Of remedies. But the most
difficult task is before us-that of
devising the appropriate remedies
and determining how they may be
best applied. For this we need, as
president, a man with the qualities
rather of the constructive statesman
than of the warrior. We need a mind
that grows rather than leaps into
things progressive We need deep
sympathy for the common people, and
that absolute respect for them and
for the truth which made it impos-
sible for Lincoln to attempt to de-
ceive men even for their own benefit.
We need, in addition to the manly
virtues and a quick intelligence, that
student quality of diligent, patient in
quiry; that true open -mindedness,
which makes one willing to listen as
we'll as to speak, and that calm, care
full. hard thinking which is essential
to sound judgment on legislation, by
which it is proposed to make import
ant changes in our social industrial
or political institutions. We need
the will to labor, as we'll as the pow
er to achieve.
These are the qualities essential to
a safe and effective leader of the pro-
gressive movement in its present
stage; and these qualities Governor
Wilson possesses in pre-eminent de-
gree. His longing for the attainment
of democratic ideals, as we'll as his
ability to achieve, found expression in
those well considered laws, which, as
Cornelius Ford. president of the New
Jersey Federation of Labor, declared.
obtained for the people of New Jer-
sey "in the first 80 days of his ad-
ministration more beneficial legisla-
ton than had been passed in the pre-
ceding nine years" His democratic
instinct made him revolt at the dom
ination of wealth, even when clothed
in the refined and cultured traditions
of his own university. And his
strength and high purpose were ex-