The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1912-09-12
ST. Louis Letter

STATE AgliNNllllbli AleAo hNNh ANAN NNA~
the so,called progressive party has
nominated full state ticker with not
single man on it big enough TO give
the new party sufficient dignity 10 rank
as potent political factor in Missouri
politics. The leaders are all novices,
except, perhaps, the nominee for gov
ernor, Judge Bert Nortoni, who has
ranked as a clever politician in the re
publican party clever enough, at
least, to get one of the best Offices in
the gilt OF the republicans, that OF
Judge Of the St. Louis court Of appeals,
with salary Of SIS, ,000ayear for twelve
years. Judge Nortoni seemed reluc-
tant to take the nomination, as he
must surrender his Office ii his name is
10 20 on the November ballot, but ne
is the nominee and the head Of the
new party. Arthur Sager, who sue
ceeded Folk as circuit attorney Of St.
Louis, was permanent chairman and a
dominating spirit. He has had some
experience in city politics but very lit
tie in state politics. These two men
were the chiefs among the hundreds
Of innocent looking gentlemen (and
ladieS) who composed the convention.
They we're the real BOSSES" though
they dared not let anybody use that
term in connection with their names,
for bull mooses are dead set agin
Bosses" They are nightly bosSed
but are not permitted to know it, Or
even to suspect it.
The ticket nominated by the con-
vention is made up OF unknowns,
though the citizens who are named on
it are all clean, honest, we'll meaning
men They will get acquainted with
the people Of the state, at least few
of them, il Con Roach, the obliging
democratic secretary OF state, finds
legal way to make real candidates Of
them. He and Attorney General Major
are very, very much interested in get
ting a full Roosevelt ticket before the
voters in November, because they will
otherwise have no very encouraging
prospects Of election as democratic
nominees. These worthless are fully
awake TO the fact that unless they can
use progressive claws to pull their
chestnuts out Of the fire the said chest
nuts will be consumed this fall. They
are great believers just now in right Of
new party 10 have ballot at the
November election, no matter what
the primary election law provides.
The progressive convention was a
distinct disappointment to the leaders
OF the new party. 1t was neither rep
reSentative or responsive. 1t lacked
the yigor, vim and vinegar that had
been promised. Col. Roosevelt'S
presence and speech saved the gath
ering from condition OF innocuous
desuetude. Until he told them what
he wanted few Of the delegates knew
what they wanted. There were enough
rumors afoat to keep people guessing
about what would be done, but aftel
the second days session began there
was no occasion for big headlines in
the newspapers. One Of the rumor'
was that several nominees on the re-
publican state ticket would resign anc
be nominated on the progressive ticket
One Of the men whose name was free
ly used in this connection was Greer
B. Greer Of Scott county, republican
nominee for state auditor. When Mr.
Greer filed his declaration as a candi
date for nomination on the republican
ticket for state auditor he felt that h
could accept the nomination il HI
republican voters oi the state Shoul,
prefer him, but before the primar
election was held he found that h
could not make the race if nominateI
or hold the office if elected, and woul
have had his name stricken from tn
ballot but for the objections Of hi
friends. As soon as the election wa
over he submitted his resignation t
Chairman Morris Of the republica
state committee. Subsequently h