The Washington times., 1912-08-30
ROOSEVELT PLEASED
WITH ATTITUDE OF
VERMONT FARMERS
Candidate Urges Them To
Follow Example They
Ia Set In 1860.
Continued from First Page.)

What the Republicans leaders hoped,
the former President asserted, was to
elect a Democrat.
Thrashing Old Straw.
In a speech last night Colonel Roose-
welt said in part
Both Of the old parties have confined
themselves to thrashing over again the
old straw. There is not one particle of
hope for social or economic reform con-
tanned in the triumph of either the DEM
ocratic or Republican parties. Each is
boss-ridden and privilege controlled.
Neither dares to face the real issues
of today. Each proposes sham remedies
and tries to distract the attention of the
people from their real needs by the
empty sound and fury with which they
quarrel over false issues. The two old
parties have utterly lost touch with the
facts Of modern economic life and they
serve no other purpose than that of
screens, each for it's own sinister alliance
Of crooked politicians and crooked hnan-
ciers who rule and pillage with impun-
"It is no wonder that where this is
the case the average man grows to re-
gard politics as "a game between two
sets of sharpers at the expense of a
muddle-headed public Instead of a
representative Government ours has be-
come an unrepresentative Government,
and the popular will Is continually frus-
trated by the politicians, misrepresent-
ed In the legislature, set at naught by
the courts and trampled on by the
forces of privilege.
the least faint promise Of breaking up
this condition of affairs. The triumph
or either would perpetuate 1t. The
leaders of neither show even an under
standing OF what the problem means.
Compares Platforms.
There is nothing in either the Re-
publican or the Democratic platform
which so much as hints at even an un-
derstanding of what issues are really.
vital to our people. The Progressive
platform, on the contrary, boldly grap-
pies with these issues.
Remember that loyalty to a name
often means the most dreadful disloyalty
to the principle for which that name
once stood. In 1860 loyalt to the parties
or jefferson, Jackson, and Henry Clay
could find expression only by repudiat-
Ing of the parties that still bore the
names Of those great men and joining
the new Republican party, so in our
day we can be loyal to the Republican
ism of Lincoln by scornfully tossing
aside the Republicanism that dances in
!etters OF corruption under the whips of
feenrose' BARNES. and Guggenheim.
nartr ne foda dProgressive @ party is the only
represents the Republican party of Lin
coins time, and in reality it is a con-
t!nnation of Lincoln's party.
.,.Ntow; here in Vermont. remember
with the national campaign. This is so,
IN the first place, because our oppon-
ehi, ehts, representing both the old ma
to elect their respective candidates here
with the avowed purpose Of thereby in
huencing the effect in other States. 1t
SO In the next nlace. because our
1o
REFORMS which must be largely accom-
plished through State action no less
than through national action.
Progressive Standpoint.
mo man has right to call himself
q Progressive at all if he is supporting
either of the old parties; whether in the
nation or in the several States. Neither
of these old parties has shown the
slightest understanding of the need for
social and economic reform. Whoever
supports either of them here in Ver-
mont, whether in the national election
or in the State election. is turning his
back on the future and is setting his
eyes to the past Nor can any candi-
date claim to be really Progressive
tonal platform Of both the old parties
and supports us and our platform.
our candidate for governor IN Yer.
mont mont MI n Metzger Is man Who b IL
cause he possesses the vision clearly ia
see both the evils that affiict us and
the need OF graphing with those evils
and because he possesses also the high
purpose and intelligent ability neces-
sary II those evils are really to be met
and abated. If You elect him and make
will put Vermont in the lead of tn. new
moyement. If you fail to do SO: you
will put Vermont in the position of be-
ing dragged on by it instead of heading
Predicts Victory.
1--WE shall win in this fight and my
plea to you is that Vermont, the Green
Mountain State, which has always stood
Alright in every great movement of the
past, shall take the lead in standing
right in this great movement of the
present.
II make an especial appeal to the
farmers of Vermont. Our platform alone
of the three platforms shows an lntelli.
gent purpose to deal fundamentally with
the causes that are at work to harm
American agriculture and to diminish
try. We are ready to grapple bo.h witt
the immediate evils susceptible of RENE
dy and with the deeper rooted ones
which need long and careful work II
the way both of examination AMI of &C
ton on examination. The -probleEl is o
vital Importance. No war could damage
InlS ndUOn the eNteHI lHdl IL WOut
be damaged by even a small degree o
soil exhaustion; and a large degree o.
soil exhaustion would work ruin sucf
as no arts OF peace avert. .
I'VE are for the immediate repeal oi
the reciprocity treaty. Many of us orig
inally supported that treaty. l did my.
self. under the impression that it waE
honestly entered into for the benefit OF
all our people and to favor the recipro
cal good relations between Canada ant
the United States.
Scores Reciprocity Bill.
"a full examination has convinced u:
that the treaty was improper, that Il
would not do what it purported to do
and that 1t would seriously damage oul
farmers without bringing any adequat,
compensation to any body of our fellow
citizens. 1t remains on the statute books
in such form that If at any time can
ada chose to accept it, it would become
law
THE Progressive proposal Is to repea
1t, and once for all to put an end to al
possible threat of damage which /
would bring to our farm people. W.
are for the Immediate recreation of tn,
country life commission. the abandon
.,l. l., II 49,.