Imperial Valley press., 1912-10-26
Nilsson the Progressive
GBy Louis D. Brandeis, noted Repub-
lican lawyer and supporter of
al IL

[By Louis D. Brandeis, noted Repub-
lican lawyer and supporter of
La Follette.l
Governor Wilson possesses the quail
ties essential for a great progressive
president. He is courageous and
raightforward; he is able and firm
and sound of judgment. He is patient
and openminded. He is thoroughly
democratic in spirit. He recognizes
that all of the people are entitled to
equal opportunities; and he appreciates
that the development of all of the
people is essential TO the fulfilment of
our American ideals. He understands
the dangers incident to the control by
a few men of our industries and OF
our finance. He sees that true democ-
llacy and social and industrial justice
are unattainable, unless this power of
the few be curbed, and our democracy
becomes industrial as well as politi-
cal. He can meet the demands prop
erly made upon present day exec
utive, to lead in constructive states
manship as well as to administer eff
GENTLY. And his character, intellectual
power and previous training fit him
peculiarly to take an important part in
progressive legislation.
In the progressive movement there
is investig CATION; the second, agitation; !;
the third, legislation. They are, in the
main, successive periods, but each over
laps the other to a certain extent. The
work of investigation and of agitation.
have been largely performed Men of
insight have discerned and disclosed
the evils existing in our industrial, so so
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 complaisency with which pros
perity is apt to envelop the heart and
head. The somnolent have been
aroused; the indifferent have been fired
with enthusiasm; the timid have at
last learned to fear the evil more than
they fear the evil doer. The eve of
A large majority of the American
people recognize that grave abuses eX-
ist and are anxious to put an end to
them. We progressives are now suf-
ficient in number to compel the adop-
ton of remedies. But the most diff
ficult task is before us-that of devils
termining how they may be best ap-
Piled. For this we need, as president,
man with the qualities rather of the
rior. We need mind that grows
rather than leaps into things progress
sive. We need deep sympathy for the
CO On people, ana InaI absolute re-
spect for them and for the truth which
made it impossible for Lincoln to at
tempt to deceive men even for their
own benefit. We need, in addition TO
| the manly virtues and a quick intel
ligence, that student quality of diligent,
patient inquiry; that true open mind
edness which makes one willing to
J listen, as well as to speak, and that
I calm, careful, hard thinking which is
essential to sound judgment on legis-
! lation, by which it is proposed to make
Z irlran a nf oh in tn1 II
| trial or political institutions. We need
the will to labor, as well the power
! 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 preeminent degree. His
| longing for the attainment of demo
cratic ideals, as well as his ability to
considered laws which, as Cornelius
| Ford, president of the New Jersey Fed
| Grafton of Labor, declared, obtaine ed
! for the people of New Jersey Gin the
! first 80 days of his administration more
/ beneficial legislation than mad been
passed in the preceding nine years
His democratic instinct made him re-
volt at the domination of wealth, ever
when clothed in the refined and cul-
And his strength and high purpose
| were exhibited when, with calm de
termination, he rose superior to the
bosses, local and national. There is
| nothing in his present affiliations, OIL
his past relations, which requires ex-
planation or eXtenuation. He would
not resort to unworthy means ever