The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-06
CUMMINS AGAINST
4 THIRD PARTY
Iowa Progressive Prefers to Make
Reform Fight Within
G. o. P.
POWER LIES WITH VOTERS

i eEndNuI AADEIL a. Oh 4One
yesterday announced that he would not
Join Col. Roosevelt's third party move
ment. In a statement to the press the
Senator says there is no call for third
party.
II have received so many communica-
tons asking my views upon the political
situation" says Senator Cummins, that
feel compelled to answer them by
making the following general state
ment:
The object Of all government is TO
do justice among the people. 1t is mani
fest that this end can only be attained
through constitutions and laws. These
constitutions and laws must be ad-
vanced from time to time to meet the
conditions which the development Of
the country creates. Therefore, when
we are considering with what political
party We shall associate, we must look
beyond the personal wrong which a con-
vention may infiict upon a candidate
and the indignation which may arise
from its unfair or dishonest procedure
to this vital and more fundamental
question. viz, Through what political
party are we most likely to secure
the constitutions and laws which we
must ultimately have II we are to main
Fighting for ProEressIves.
During all the time I have been In
public life have been fighting to make
the Republican party the progressive
party OF the country. During all that
time have not hesitated TO denounce
party policies when I believed them TO
be. wrong, nor to criticise party leaders
for their failure to keep the party
abreast OF the age. Nevertheless, I
have believed during all that time that
there was more hope for substantial
progress toward good government in
the Republican party than any other
existing political organization, or in any
one that might be brought into the
political field. I am still Of that be-
lief. have been now and then sorely
disappointed and sometimes much dis
couraged, but 1 have tried to recognize
that in any party there will always be
a front rank and a rear rank. Some
will insist upon going too fast and some
will scarcely move at all, and there
fore, the march will not be as rapid
or as constant as It ought to be- In
taking account OF the achievements OF
the past few years, II must not be
forgotten that the influence of the pro-
gressives in the Republican party has
accomplished results Of the most graft
AsAAb anu COMPREHENSIVE character.
When I compare the position Of the re-
dictionaries of ten years ago and their
positions now. / am conscious, and Il
Is a reassuring reflection, that although
we have Travelled slowly. we have trav-
eled far.
Energies Not Concentrated.
I'VE met defeat at Chicago simply be-
cause We had not concentrated our en-
eT1faa
unjust basis Of representation; but the
basis can be overthrown. and will be
overthrow, and another system for the
nomination Of Presidential candidates
will be substituted before another Presi-
Dental nomination is made. The only
thing that has happened since the pro-
gressive Republicans made their cam
paign for the nomination Of a candidate
for President in the Chicago convention
is our failure to control the convention.
due, as many believe, to unfair or dis
honest practices by our opponents. II
deeply regret the failure, and I agree
that dishonest practices, without regard
to consequences, ought to be rebuked
and punished. but l cannot believe that
the disappointment. however profound,
or the dishonesty OF individuals, however
heinous, can constitute a foundation upon
which to rear a new party II we are
vtgilant these things can never occur
again in the Republican party, and II
we are not vigilant they can occur in
any party, old or new. We cannot rid
ourselves Of bosses by organizing an
other party. Bosses will fasten them
selves upon any party unless the rank
and file are sleepless in their fight
against them II is no more difficult 10
deprive the old bosses Of power than TO
prevent the appearance of new ones.
For these reasons and others which |
may be easily deduced from these have |
given, I shall not Join the new party, |
but shall continue TO use all the strength |
have to influence and direct the course |
OF the Republican party toward its true
mission. I shall not hesitate to oppose
measures brought forward by its leaders |
when I think they are wrong, nor to |
differ from the President when he pro-
poses legislation which I believe to be |
or unwise. I shall continue 10 |
fight as I began years ago, having no |
other end in view save the public good, |
and no other reward save the approval of |
my own conscience.
with respect to the belief held by so |
many progressive Republicans that the |
nomination at Chicago was the result of |
seating delegates who had no title to /
seats in the convention, and therefore /
no right to vote, have this to say: A
fraudulent conspiracy vitiates everything /
L touches, and therefore, as the Repub- |
lican who, after intelligent inquiry, |
the conclusion that the outcome |
Of the Chicago convention was the result /
Of deliberate fraud, the nominee Of the
convention is not the nominee OF the |
Republican party. Such a conclusion /
ought not to be reached without careful
but II # Is so reached, then
the Republican voter holds in his ovn
hands the opportunity to rebuke and
punish
A Norwegian expedition Will study tn.