The Washington herald., 1912-07-28
Clans Gather for Progressive Convention;
Third 7ermer Is Sure TO Be Nominated
Forty Sfnfes Are Expected
to Send Representatives
to Nominate Theodore
Roosevelt on Rad
icaI Platform.

ICQI FlQIIOTW.
Chicago. July N-rhis city again holds
the center of the political stage. The
big White House at Washington and
the 'litfle White House. at Seagirt ars
remain SO until after the progressive Re
publican party. % called by its adher-
ents. holds Its convention here
And when the convention Ii called to
order on August s. IT is claimed by the
sponsors OF the new party that forty
Slater will be represented. 1t is also
expected that 1t will take not longer
than two days. at the most for the con-
vention to do what It intends to DO.
This third party movement had It's
birth at Orchestra Hall Immediately fol-
lowing the adjournment OF the regular
Republican Convention at Chicago last
month.
While there was no formal bolt from
the regular convention. this movement
Is, to all intents and purposes, bolt, be-
cause It was made as a protest against
the action of the regular convention. not
only in the matter Of seating delegates.
but also against the platform and prin-
That Theodore Roosevelt will be nomi-
mated by this convention Is q foregone
conclusion Although he stated In his
speech at Orchestra Hall that he would
gladly support any progressive noui-
mated at the proposed convention, II Is
not thought likely that any name but
his will be presented. He will then be
nominated by acclamation. a running
mate for him viii be named, a platform.
xuh hoc olr Axr he, xzvt1t
be adopted, q national committee named.
and the party will then leap into the
Presidential race
Political Obituaries.
The history Of the third party move
ments In the United States Ii a conca-
tination Of political obituaries. Those
movements seem to have been born with
the sardonic grin of death upon their
faces.
There Is one exception. however. q ro-
bust child born Of the Whig Party In
1854 It was strong of bone and brain and
came the pride and glory of the nation
That was the Republican party.
Such are the ways OF politics. The Re-
publican party, itself the creature OF an
insurgent movement. Is now the victim
of the most serious detection that any
party has suffered
It is interesting to speculate on the
parallel conditions that confronted the
Republican party In 1896 and in this year
of grace, 1872. 1t will be recalled that IT
the Republican convention held in St
Louis in 1886 a procession of oolters
marched out OF the convention hall led
by Senator Teller Of Colorado, Senator
Frank J. Cannon OF Utah. Senator Du-
bois of Idaho, and Senator Pettigrew OF
South Dakota. They quit because the con-
vention would not put a silver plank
in the platform. On that day they made
a brave showing and the entire country.
practically, west Of the Mississippi River.
applauded. Senator Teller was fortu-
nate enough to be continued in the Sem
ate as long as he desired to remain.
Cannon and Dubois tC ok refuge in the
Democratic party. So did Pettigrew. But
the silver issue died. their States en-
braced the Republican party and the
bolting Senators did not receive a COM
forting crumb from their foster parent
Likewise a condition confronted the
Democratic party in 1896 that is exactly
parallel to that which the Republican
party is now facing. When the Eastern
or gold wing of the Democratic party
expressed their protest against the ac-
ton Of the Chicago convention which
nominated William J. Bryan, by calling
another convention and putting Gems.
Palmer and Buckner in the field as
counter irritants, they only succeeded in
injecting a rift into the party that has
taken about sixteen years to heal
Palmer and Buckner scarcely figured in
the voting, and II the bolt OF the gold
Democrats served any purpose at all.
II was to clinch the election Of the Re-
publican candidate. i
Dfyfsion Now Serious.
But the division Of the Republican |
party at the present time time is re-
garded by politicians as more serious |
than the schisms OF 1896. for the people |
are not so amenable as they were to the |
cry Of party loyalty.
Also the fact must be taken into con-
sideration that the movement repre-
sented by the forthcoming convention at |
Chicago is headed by a former Presi-
dent of the United States. The first 1
time former President has ever identi-
led himself with any measure calcu-
ated to bring schism into his party.
That Col Roosevelt has been Presi-
lent for seven and a half years is both
his strength and his weakness His /
Itrength. say his followers. his weak
ness, say his enemies. The latter rely |
lpOn tne sentiment OF tne American peO- /
Die regarding Washingtons two term |
,recedent to act as the most formidable
,arrier between Col. Roosevelt and the
attainment of his White House ambi-
ions.
But notwithstanding the fact that the
,eople have become amazingly indepen-
lent politically, and party loyalty has
,ecome as much term Of reproach as
Il mystic power, the new party will not
IN drawing all the insurgent
strength from the Republican party.
There is a division even among the
anks OF this rebeIlious band. and many
4 the prominent leaders who Identified
themselves with the movement before
he division came at the first Chicago
have decided to stay within
he fold an fight inside the ranks for
he regeneration OF their party.
MORE THAN THOUSAND
GIRLS DISAPPEAR