The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-14
Bull Moose Leaders Plan to In
crease the Herd
By Rounding Up Insurgent
Members of Congress.
CAN'T STAY ON THE FENCE
Must Join the New Party OF
Lose Their Jobs.
Are Urged to Talk 1t Over With
the Colonel.

Chicago, Aug 14.-The Record-Herald
! prints the following from its Wash
/ ington correspondent:
Renewed efforts are being made 10
force the Progressive Republicans in
congress into the bull moose party.
! The efforts have been redoubled since
| the Progressive convention at Chicago
dispersed. Previously the Roosevelt
leaders carried on considerable mis-
sionary work and sought to have GER
| tain Progressive senators pay quiet
visits to Oyster Bay to talk things over
with the colonel.
Some Jealous persons quizZed mem
bers of congress as to where they stood
and were rebuffed with much ind1Sna-
ton in certain quarters. Pre-conVen-
ton heckling, however, was nothing IN
comparison with the pressure now De-
| ing brought to bear without brass pano
accompaniment. Now the attention OF
| lieutenants in the Roosevelt movement
! is being directed entirely to those sena-
| tors and representatives who have been
known as progresSiVeS, or insurgents,
| but who refused to break allegiance
with the old party and join the new.
| The Progressive national convention
brought the showdown that was ex-
pected, and force instead of pleading
is being resorted to now among those
whose names were missing when the
new roll was completed.
/ Some Are NaVering.
Some Progressive senators who or
iginally took strong ground are waV-
ering. Others who are being pressed
the hardest show no signs of waverins
but ev1nce a disposition to fight back
if fights are inaugurated against them
Again, some of the ''erring brothers
are being urged to take trip to Oys-
ter Bay and see Colonel Roosevelt
Some may do and some may decline
! to enter into negotiations, as they DID
before. Matters are being made de-
, cidedly unpleasant for several who
thought they had settled things, so far
as they personally were concerned
when they announced t.eir intention of
continuing to be Republicans.
1t is very embarrassing. for example.
for Senator Cummins and Senator Ken
yon, Progressive Republicans of the
Iowa delegation in the house are in the
same boat with the senators. Tremend-
Gus pressure is being brought to bear
all along the Iowa lire, the question up
permost with most of the Aarassed
members being the all-important one
of reelection and continuance in Off
ciai life. The fact that a man stands
for progressive principles and that his
record is clear is not enough. He must
become a supporter of the new party
he runs. 1t is the same old slogan
with those who now stand at Armaged
don: Those who are not with US are
against U.S."
Are on the Fence
It's an especially tough predicament
for those who have desired to avoid
open support of either Taft or RoOsc-
welt. They are, in fact, the wavering
class at present. They have expected
70 weather the present storm by re-
manning Regular, looking for general
readJustmcnt four years hence. But
they are threatened on one side if they
do not come out openly for the Pro-
gressive national ticket and if they 90
come out for it they cannot tell what
the rank and file who stay Regular" |
Will treasure up and do to them on the |
other hand. Was there ever a worse
situation for a statesman? Altogether
it looks as if there would have to be |
double "shOw-down"-the last CT l. |
cago convention developed the class
which did not intend to make open
declarations for Roosevelt and the |
third party; now it is sought to force |
acknowledgment of being squareIy for
Roosevelt or for Taft
Demands Are Made
There has been demand on one or
two grsssives-made by their col |
leagues-that they act as am bassa doris
to Oyster Bay and lay the situation be- |
fore the third party leader in the hope
that an understanding may be reached, |
without changing the attitude already |
assumed. SO far, however, there has |
been no ardent longing on the part Of
those nominated to accept the mission. |
1t has been pointed out that the case
is one where every man must choose |
for himself, and local conditions, while |
they will influence the course of some
in the end, are not likely to move those
with the real fighting spirit.
Senator Borah of Idaho is threat
ened with attack by an element of the
Progressive PARTY on the conservative
issue. Clifford Pinchot is to have
charge of the conservative line of at
tack and word has reached here that
he may open fire on Senator Borah.
who was one of Roosevelt's strongest
supporters at the Chicago Republican
convention on his conservation rec
ord
The main complaint against Senator
Borah is his four or five years fight
to have agricultural lands eliminated L