The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-04-18
PROGRESSIVE POLICIES LAID
DOWN BY COLONEL ROOSEVELT.

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Our aim is to secure the real and not
the nominal rule of the people.
We propose to do away with what
ever in our government tends to secure
privilege.
We believe in securing for the people
the direct election of United States
Senators.
We believe in securing for the people
the right of nominating candidates for
office, from the President down, by
direct primaries.
We believe in securing for the people
the exercise of a real and not merely a
nominal control over their representa-
tives in office.
Our object is to give the people con-
troll and to have the people exercise this
control in the spirit of the broadcast SYM
pathy and broadcast desire to secure
social and industrial Justice for every
man and woman.
We stand for the adequate control Of
all big business and especially Of all
monopolistic big business where it
proves unwise or impossible to break
down the monopoly.
Prosperity can only permanently come
to this country on a basis of honesty
and Of fair treatment for all.
The keynote of the progressive cam
paign in 1912 was sounded by Col, Roose-
welt in his Louisville, KY, speech on
April 8. At that time Col Roosevelt
made plain the issues which the voters
of the country are called upon to de-
eide at the polls; made plain that there
can be no middle ground between the
rule of the people; the rights of the
many against special privilege; right
against wrong and honesty against dis
honesty.
At the outset Col Roosevelt sha tier
ed the claims of Mr.. Taft to be called a
progressive, showing that Mr.. Taft has
failed to carry out the policies to which
he pledged himself before he entered the
White House; that he has been won
over to the special privilege, anc
allowed the reactionaries who fought
him three years ago to dominate his ad
ministration.
In one of Col. Roosevelt's own sen.
fences may be summed up his stand il
the present fight. He said:
1--WE who stand for the cause of pro
gress, for the cause of the uplift OF
humanity and for the betterment Of
mankind, are pledged to eternal wal
against tyranny and ring, by the few Oh
many, by plutocracy or by mob. "
Col. Roosevelt stated that the natior
is facing one of the greatest crises init.
history. He declared that victory fol-
the progressives means the placing Of
human life above the dollar, the govern
ment control of big business" the
conversion of natural resources, an(
the restoration of power to the people
themselves. Victory for the reaction
aries, headed by Mr.. Taft, however, h
stated, means the control of the govern
ment and the courts in the interest o
big business" and return to that con
dition when commercial corruption il
league with the political allies, seize
the most valuable of the country's pro
per ties
While severely arraigning Mr.. Tai
for his dilatory tactics, Col. Roosevelt
vas sufficiently charitable not to charg
him with anything more than timidit
and lack of comprehension.
EVERY man who, directly or indirectl
upholds privileges and favors the specis
interests, whether he acts from ev
motives or merely because he is puzzle
headed or dull of mental visions, or lacI
ing in social sympathies, or whether h
simply lacks interest in the subject, is
reactionary.
The man is a reactionary, VIVA
ever may be his professions, and 7
matter how excellent his intention
who opposes these movements. or if
high place, takes no interest in the
and does not earnestly help them 70
ward"
eve are in period of changes; v
are fronting great period of furth
change. Never was the need more ir
perative of men of vision who are all
men Of action. Disaster is ahead of
if we trust to the leadership of M
whose hearts have withered and who
eyes are blinded. who believe that v
can find safety in dull timidity and dl
inaction.'