Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-04
RoosEVELT's STATEMENT.
Continued from Page one.)

citizens throughout the Union and ask
them TO support this great Progressive
| movement for righteousness and for
fair dealings. The Progressive move
ment is in the interest of every hon
est man and woman in the land, and
therefore we have a right TO ask that
all good citizens. without regard TO
their past political affiliations, shall
stand with MS in this fight for clean
politics and for the square deal in in
dustry.
only the Progressive party has
faced the real and vital issues of the
day Not only are both of the old
parties boss ridden and privilege con-
trolied, but they were added to the
dead issues of a vanquished party
and they show not the slightest con-
ception of the needs of the day or
the steps now urgently necessary to
take if grave disaster to the nation in
the future is To be avoided.
During the lifetime of the genera
ton which is now in middle life. ex-
traordinary social and Industrial
changes have come over this land. The
great forces now at work. social and
Industrial, are such as were utterly
undreamed of half century ago. Yet
the leaders of both of the old parties,
today, are still attempting the futile
feat of trying to meet these new con-
ditions by WORKOUT governmental eN-
pedients and by appeal to little for
mulas and dogmas which had Ger
tain usefulness before the days of
steam and electricity before the days
of concentrated industry and tremend-
Gus economic development. but which
are now as utterly useless as the
fiintlocks of the Continental soldiers
would be in modern warfare.
THE Progressives, and the Pro-
gressives alone have seen that ii is
utterly useless to hope tand to our
minds entirely pernicious to desire
that a great people living under the
forms of a political democracy and
skilled by universal education will
long continue to tolerate in economy,
economic matters the reign of an in
dustrial oiigarichy. the enforcement
of privilege and widespread Unequal
ity of opportunity. Neither in the
platforms of the old parties nor in the
utterances of their candidates and
leaders do we see the slightest sign
of any appreciation of this great fun
damental issue.
I'VE intend to use the forces of gov
eminent to secure justice and fair
play between man and man, man ana
woman, not only in the polltlcal put
in the industrial world.
"Our opponents. Democratic and Re-
publican alike. have not Ventured To
particularize as to what action they
advocate. whether as regards the
trusts the tariff, the welfare of the
farmer or the welfare of the wage
Garner We. on the contrary, have set
forth specifically and in detail Just
what we propose to dc.
Not since the days of Abraham Linz
coin has there been any public docu-
ment in America comparable with the
Progressive platform. | urgently ask
every voter in the United States 60
read that platform this very day and
ponder over it, and tomorrow to cast
his vote having in mind what is SAID
in that platform. 1t does not contain q
promise which ought not TO be made.
1t does contain every promise which in
view OF our present conditions ought TO
be made. Every promise it contains
can -. kept. If we are given the power
every promise which it contains will
be kept.
(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT .
November 4, 1912.