Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-06-25
BANDANNA THE
BATTLE FLAG
Organization Dedicated Sunday
With Prayer and Pa
triotic Song.
THE PLAIN PEOPLE PARTY.
That is Why Bandanna Handker-
chief Was Selected As
Emblem.
THE PLAIN PEOPLE PARTY.

Chicago, June 24.-Ihe progress
sive party, born Saturday night,
4 was dedicated yesterday. In the
presence Of perhaps 500 men. some
of them recognized leaders Of the
movement, others merely onlookers,
the first formal step was taken. Gov.
Hiram Johnson of California was
empowered to appoint a committee
/ of seven members to confer with
Col Theodore Roosevelt and formu-
late plan of action.
Here is the birth of new par
ty," said Governor Johnson, when
this was done.
The movement is going steadily
ahead said James R. Garfield Of
Ohio Those who think this is a
dash in the pan are mistaken"
In the opinion of the leaders, the
new party enters the field with a
formidable equipment at the outset.
These leaders. however, said that as
to the men who took conspicuous
part, in the campaign for Colonel
l Roosevelt's nomination. each must
q speak for himself.
The attitude of Governor Hadley
OF Missouri was the chief point Of
Sxdiscussion along this line. The
,lgovernor left town without waiting
to declare himself.
~ definite idea of the plan to be
followed could be obtained. and it
was said that period of several
weeks may elapse before the pro-
gramme is decided upon. Governor
Johnson, in the meantime, will act
as field marshal and in cooperation
\ with Colonel Roosevelt will decide
I upon the membership of the COM
mittee of seven to guide the prelim
mary work of the organization.
Colonel Roosevelt will leave for
Oyster Bay today and Governor
y johnson will return at once to Cali
fornia. They will keep in touch
with each other through the mails
and by telegraph.
Yesterdays meeting was held in
the headquarters of the national
!, Roosevelt committee, under the di-
rection of the most prominent
Roosevelt supporters who had not
81 left town Seated at table with
Governor Johnson We're Mr. Gar
Il field, Clifford Pinchot, Governor
sStubbs of Kansas, Medill McCor
4 mick r. Chicago and Senator Clapp
of Minnesota.
Scattered through the hall were
Saa large number of Roosevelt dele
u gates to the republican national
convention, as well as some of the
steam roller delegates to whom
Il seats were refused. It was impos-
gsible to ascertain how large pro-
4 portion Of the full Roosevelt
strength at the convention was rep
resented, although it was said that
5nearly every state which sent Roose-
4 velt delegates to Chicago had its
y share Of men there.
The bandanna handkerchief was
i adopted as the Roosevelt battle
flag" Most of he delegates wore
4 flaming bandannas tied around their
BARNS, and others were distributed
by the hundreds to the crowds The
bandanna, 1t was explained, stands
for the plain people who ordinarily
i use them.
Were all plain people here, and
this is movement of the plain peo-
ple." said one OF the delegates.
III Colonel Roosevelt gave his sane
ltion to the battle flag by appear
ing Saturday night with one in his
hand, which he waved to the crowd
on the street. His daughter, Mrs.
Nicholas Longworth, wore ban
Il danna on her hat Scattered
through the hall We're large num-
her on Roosevelt delegates to the re-
/ publican convention.
Il am not acting as the leader of
this new movement" said Governor
] Johnson when the meeting OF dele
gatos had been called to order. "The
active leader must be a man from a
more accessible state than Califor-