The Washington times., 1912-06-18
Nebraskan Describes COL
onel's Speech of
Last Night.

announced his plan OF campaign TOT tne
control OF the convention. He demand
ed that the seventy-si delegates whose
seats are to be contested before the Gre
dentlals committee. stand aside and al
low these cases to be decided by the
1000 uncontested delegates. He de-
cared that 1t would be a fraud upon the
party to allow them to take part in the
convention. and that their participation
would so vitiate any action of the con-
vention which depended upon their
votes that 1t would not be binding upon
any Republican inside the convention or
outside. This statement called forth the
most spontaneous demonstration OF the
evening. 1t was apparently the state
ment for which they were waiting. 1t is
evident that the Roosevelt leaders will
object to the contested delegates voting
IN the temporary chairmanship fight.
What this may lead TO no one can
say. but only one construction can be
placed upon Mr.. Roosevelts language.
namely, that the progresslves will not
regard themselves as under any obliga-
ton to support the ticket II the seventy
six contested delegates are seated, and
as a result OF their participation in the
convention Mr. Taft Is nominated.
The prospect is bright for lively con-
vention. After disposing OF the Presi-
| dent. Senator Root, and the national
committee, Mr.. Roosevelt proceeded to
make a plea for progressive Republi
! canism.
Talks Progressivism.
He did not refer to any issues. but
dealt with the broad distinction between
the people and those who exploit them
| Ele quoted Lincoln and interpreted his
definition and distinction in the language
! OF today. he described his opponents in
| the present contest as men of restrict
ed vision, and contracted sympathy; ana
| men who lack intensity of conviction
| and care only for the pleasures of the
| day, men who distrust the people, who
are filled with an angry terror whenever
! there is an appeal to their conscience
| and popular intelligence. They live on
low plane, and in an atmosphere In
which imposters flourish. His assc-
| ciates, on the other hand, are men OF
faith and vision; men in whom love Of
! righteousness burned like flaming fire,
| men wfo spUrn lives of soft and selfish
| ease OF slothful Indulgence.
| 1t Is a strong contrast that I've draws.
1t carries me back to the daJ when
first learned of this worldwide. never
ending contest between the benefciaries
|
and l can appreciate the amazemert
which he must have felt at so many
honest and well-meaning people seem
ingly blind or Indifferent to what Is
| going on.
passed through the same period OF
amazement when l first began to run
for President. My only regret is, that
we have not had the benefit of his pow
erful assistance during the campaigns
in which we have protested against the
domination of politics by predatory cor
| porations.
He probably feels more strongly
stirred to action today because he was
so long unconscious of the forces al
work thwarting the popular will
The fact that he has won prestige and
position for himself and friends through
the support of the very influence which
he now so righteously denounces mus:
still further increase the sense of re-
sponsibility which he feels at this time
He errs, however, and a very natural
error II is, in assuming that the defeat
of the progressive Republicans in this
convention would be fatal to the coun-
try. He forgets that the Democrats
stand ready to rescue the nation, even
II the progressive Republicans fail, and
then there are future campaigns II the
reactionaries win this one. He ought
to find encouragement in my experience
have seen several campaigns and in a
most provoking way; and yet I have
lived to see a Republican former Presi'
dent cheered by a Republican audience
for denouncing men who only a few
years ago, were thought to be the Gus
todians of the nations honor, This con
test is an important one, and veteran
reformers rejoice at the advance GROUND
taken by progressive Republicans, bu
this country is not going to ruin
A convention may delay reforms for q
short time, but II cannot stay the on
ward march Of the people. Democracy
is militant the world around, and no
where more SO than in our own belovet
land.