The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-06-26
THE THIRD PARTY.

THE fANI1.
That there was a great popular de-
mand for Mr.. Roosevelt to lead the
Republican party was clearly demon
stratedi in every State where the issue
was submitted to the rank and file of
his party. That he was clearly the
choice of the majority of his party
was amply attested by the large lead
of instructed uncontested delegates
with which he entered the conven-
ton. There is also much justice in
the Colonel's contention that he was
robbed of the nomination by the
steam -roller tactics of the executive
But that there is any great popular
demand for the formation of a third
with the Rough Rider as its
standard bearer, is more than doubt
full.
Seeing what they believed to be
overwhelming defeat impending, as
4 result of the blunders of the Taft
administration, many leaders Of the
progressive wing OF Republican party
called upon Mr.. Roosevelt to come
to the aid of the party. Having
failed to carry their point within the
party ranks, many Of these leaders
will no doubt prefer to remain loyal
to their former affiliations and will
hardly be willing to follow blindly
the leadership of the Colonel into the
laborious work of building a polit-
ical machine from its inception.
Many of these men are already in
control of the Republican machine
in their States and will scarcely BIZ
willing to cut loose from the emolu-
ments and prestige attendant upon
such control for the uncertain glory
If taking part in a doubtful move
ment to place Roosevelt in power
nee more.
For this reason we hardly expect
the new movement to assume much
force. Much, of course, may depend
upon the action of the Democrats al
Baltimore. The nomination of q
known reactionnry might ALLEVIATE
the support of the progressive ele-
:nent of the party and cause n con-
siderable DETECTION to the third.
termer, who is a third party man a.
we'll, but the nomination of a pro-
,ressiVe in whom the rank and file
have confidence, while holding intact
that element of the party, will not be
,pt to ALLEVIATE much Of the conserva-
tive or reactionary element, because
that portion of both parties is more
inclined to accept the dictum of the
party as final than their more rad
ical brethren On the progressive side.
All of this leads up to the predic:
ton that the nomination of a strong
progressive at Baltimore and the
adoption of a platform in line with
what are known as progressive pol
icies will do more to scotch the new
party in its inception than anything
else that could happen. In fact, we
believe such action would make the
success of the new party so very
doubtful that Mr.. Roosevelt, who is
the worst loser in the world, would
scarcely attempt to push his fight to
d conclusion.
All in all the Democratic sky is
brighter than for many years, and
success seems more than probable. "a
In case the Colonel does run, the
is almost certain from the be-
ginning. He and Taft will divide
the Republican vote, perhaps about
equally. The Democrats will fail of
4 majority in the general election
and the election of president will be
thrown into a Democratic Congress,
will insure Democratic success.
lin case the Colonel doesn't run, his
progressive friends, governed by the
of the Republican convention
and determined on progression, will
vote for a progressive Democrat in
preference to Taft. So with the
it seems to be a case of
heads I win, tails you lose."