Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-10
Keynote is Sounded at
Progressive Conference
by Leader.
STILL WARS ON BOSSES
Declares None of Men Who En-
gineered Chicago Convention
Should BE Trusted.

Chicago, Dec. 1O.-Even aisles and
other standing room was filed when
the conference of the progressive par
ty was formally called to order today
il the auditorium of the LaSalle ho-
tel
National Chairman Dixon spoke
briefly and was followed by Colonel
I.9Csel cit with a keynote speech.
PARTY HERE TO STAY.
Theodore Roosevelt made plain to-
day that the program of the progress
sive party does not contemplate max
ing terms with the republican party
as party. He said in effect that the
new party had come TO stay and eX-
pected eventually to attract to its ban
ner the progressives who still gave
allegiance to republican and demo-
cratic organizations.
AS to leadership. Colonel Roosevelt
seid events of the next year or two
could be trusted to develop the best
Ren. who must be chosen without
reference to their own desires, but
solely with regards TO the needs of
the people.
NOT TO BE TRUSTED.
Progressives in congress and state
/ legislatures were urged to get together
and push legislation, but were also
cDunselled to support legislation that
would carry out the principles of the
new party regardless of what party
might introduce 1t. Addressing the
progressive national committee and
other leaders, Colonel Roosevelt con-
! graduated them on what had been
/ accomplished in the short time since
j the party was organized, and gave
hope for the future. He did not refer
NSo the outcome of the campaign, but
dwelt briefly on the Chicago Conven-
ton. He said: The men who took
part in, profited by or condoned and
endorsed the theft of the Chicago con-
yCntion should never again be trusted
b. men who believe in honesty.
HOLD WITH LINCOLN.
I'VE also hold with Abraham Lin
GCln-and we and We only are the
heirs of LinCoin's principles-thatt the
people are the masters of the consti-
tuition. We believe in the constitu-
tion and for that very reason we con
temptuously thrust aside the efforts of
tie reactionaries to turn it into a
fetish for the obstruction of justice.
The constitution was created to Sc
cure justice and we refuse to allow
l. to be so perverted as to become a
barrier between people and justice.
Every proposal we have made for ap-
plying and adapting the constitution
to our present needs is a proposal to
save the constitution by making it
a more efficient instrument for secur-
irg justice for all tie people.
The so-called conservatives who OBJ
jcCt TO our methods of applying the
constitution stand on an exact level
with their predecessors, the so-called
i conservatives of 80 years ago, the
men who opposed the 18th amend
ment on the ground that the old con-
st.tution' was good enough for them.
Fifty years ago the conservatives
chg mpioned a view of the constitution
Which perpetuated chattel slavery for
black men; the corresponding con
depreciation of the constitution which
perpetuates industrial slavery for
white women and children.
APOSTLES OF REACTION.
The men who fight such proposals
as We have made TO secure justice
when the courts do injustice are as
emphatically the apostles of reaction
hA v-hn
defended the Dred Scott decision by
tho supreme court and sought to pre-
vent the prohibition Of slavery by the
constitution. / believe that the pro
Ressiye party and all good citizens
and al believers in genuine popular
rule. should heartily support the pro
posed constitutional amendment re
certify introduced by Senator Bristow
TO secure the people OF the United
States proper control OF their OWL
government.
RIGHT OF APPEAL.
These amendments embody the
fundamentals of the progressive posi-
ton on popular rule. II adopted il
) principle they will secure the right
{ TO appeal TO the people of the coun
. try when important legislation /!
e blocked by adroit political manipula
i tion and the right of the people. aftel
+ due deliberation, and without unneces
: sary and long drawn delay and pro
e c.sstination, to make and to inter
T pref the purpose of their own consti
y tuition. The adoption Of these Bristov
e amendments including that providing
S for the direct election OF United States
: senators, will make it comparativel!
easy to secure the passage Of deslI