Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-10-15

1t has been the aim and object Of the Pro
g~ressiye party since it was formally organized
at the Chicago convention, to impress upoI
the public that it is entirely an independent
party, as free from Republican domination as
it is free from Democratic control. 1t has beer
hard to convince many people, however, thai
the Progressive party is not a mere split IL
the Republican ranks. There is good reason
for this suspicion because Of the fact that the
convention held at Chicago, when Roosevelt
and johnson were nominated, was made uT
largely of delegates who had previously at
tended the Republican convention as regular
delegates sent to that body.
There have been a number of Independent
Democrats however, who have joined the Pro
g~ressive ranks and Roosevelt, who has beer
the party leader, insists that the new party
has nothing to do with Republicanism.
At the state convention held at Asbury
Park the Progressives decided to nominate &
complete Independent ticket, as far as state
congressional and national affairs were con
cerned, but to leave purely local matters IL
the hands of the different localities for the
Progressives to act on as they thought best
Now, within three weeks before the election.
the regular Progressive candidate for con
gress in the third district %withdraws in favor
of the Republican candidate. Although this
Republican claims to be a Progressive and has
supported Progressive policies in the Repub-
lican party from the beginning, yet he, when
it came time in draw the line, preferred to stay
in the old party ranks after he secured the
nomination as a regular.
But as far as that goes, Thomas J. Scully
the Democratic candidate, is also a progress
i've. He is an ardent supporter Of Woodrow
Wilson and has done excellent service for pro
g~ressive principles. If the Progressive party
therefore, is as Independent Of both old parties
as it claims to be, why do the Progresslves OF
the third district indorse the Republican can
didate for congress in preference to the Demo
cratic candidate2 The fact that the Repub-
lican has been indorsed and is now associated
with the Progressive movement, although
bearing the Republican label, cannot help bat
do harm to the Progg111vrg~S party throughout
this district.
1t shows plainly that the Progressives, after
all, are not independent Of both old parties,
but are, in fact, an adjunct to the Republican
party. Naturally, Democrats with independ-
ent leanings are not going to get into such 8
party under these circumstances.
While we have every~respect for Benjamin
f. S. Brown, the Republican congressional
candidate, and believe he is a capable man te
represent the district, we believe the Pro
gressives have made a serious mistake in thus
losing their independence and openly indoors
ing the Republican candidate. The Progress
ives cannot hope to build up their party on
firm foundation and make it a permanent In
s%titution in political affairs Of this govern
ment by such action.
1t only helps to convince the skeptlcal tina
thew were right in declaring the Progressive
movement is merely a split from the Repub
lican party and that another campaign vii
find the disgruntled, as the Progressives ar
termed, back in the party ranks.