The Washington times., 1912-09-04
THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY, BOTH STATE
AND NATIONAL.

1t is, Of course, the prerogative of Presidential
candidate to make the platforms Of his opponents
fit in with his own chosen line of argument, even
though to make them fit they must be utterly dis
torted At Buffalo, Governor Wilson avaed him
self Of this prerogative to its full extent
But to say that the real program of the Pro-
gressve party, outlined in its PLATFORM is to be
found where the tariff and trusts are spoken of" is
a misstatement of fact
Were there any truth in it, Mr. Roosevelts appeal
would not have awakened the country as it has, nor
would his support be coming from the sources from
which it is actually being derived.
1t is scarcely credible that Governor Wilson, if
he has given the platform sucn deep and critical
study as would alone entte him to comment upon
it, could have overlooked the underlying principle
upon which it is built, the doctrine that the warm
sympathy with practically every project of social
betterment" should find expression in accomplished
gslaton-enacted at once where such legislation
is now constitutional; where it is not, the augmenta
ton of the Governments constitutional powers so as
to make it possible in the future. To this the tariff
and trust program is entirely incidental and SUBJ
ordinate.
But his statement that this part of the platform
is only proclamation of sympathy" has some-
thing of truth in it. The Federal Governments
power to handle public welfare problems is now
limited. Beyond these limits the sociological pro-
gram advocated becomes one which the States them
selves must carry out, and which the Federal Gov
ernment can further only by sympathetic, helpful
attitude. Even such increase in the authority of the
Federal Government as is needed to make the pro-
gram generally effective must originate with the
States because only the individual States can amend
the Constitution
But this by no means vitiates the Progressive
movement. On the contrary, it suggests definite
- "a
and Repubcanism seem empty indeed The inter-
est of the old parties in State affairs is purely one of
otecatching and holding together the party organ
zaton, and it is largely this that has brought them
into discredt
party whose fundamental issues concern State
as we'll as national policy has not been seen since
the days when the extension of slavery was the
burning question.
Ohio voted yesterday on the question as to
whether it shall adopt forty-two amendments to its
Constitution. Those amendments virtually cover the
field of the Progressive platform. The vote was non
partisan-at least as between Republican anG Demo-
crat; the Progressives are soidly arrayed in favor
of them 1t is a curious fact that Democratic and
Republican papers which were warmly opposed to Mr..
Roosevelt were just as urgent in support of these
amendments-in other words, Of the adoption by
their State of the doctrines which he advocates
There is question since nearly all were carried
that Ohio will be better governed and governed more
in the interest of the great mass of her people,
Other States must sooner or later meet tine same
problems. The Progressive lovement will help them
solve them The welding together within each State
of its Progressves from both parties the creation of
strong organization in favor of social bettement
is the self-assumed task of the Progressive party.
This is necessary preliminary to the full achieve
ment of its national aims. But it can be materially
assisted by the sympathy of the National Adminstra-
ton and by the election of President who will see
that so far as is allowed by the Constitution, the
National Government keep pace with the movement.