Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-06
TRIBUNE IN PREDICAMENT

TRIBUNE IN A PREDICAMENT
The Chicago Tribune, chief oracle
Of the Roosevelt third term party. and
perhaps more responsible than any
other single agency for Roosevelt can
didacy, finds itself in a sorry plight,
aren't the carrying of the third party
into the state politics of Illinois This
Tribune. the friend Of Governor De
ueen, now finds that its governor has
been sacrificed despite its protest, on
the altar OF the third term. Here is
that the Tribune said when the bull
moose movement broke out of the ma
tional and spread over the state OF
Illinois:
. The progressives who asked Govern
or Deucen 10 define his position did
not ask him, a republican, to declare
himself for Colonel Roosevelt, a re-
publican. a question so put would
have been much more embarrassing
TO the governor than the one he an
swered
Ha was asked, as the republican can
didate for governor, to declare himself
for Colonel Roosevelt. the head of the
NATIONAL progressive party. He was
asked TO step out Of the republican
party into the national progressive
party.
II be had said he would. he would
have been obliged 10 resign from the
republican state ticket. The vacancy
caused by his resignation would have
been filled by the republican state com
m.tten He might or might not have
been nominated. These are the facts
whether or not the progressives under
stand them or are candid enough 10
admit them.
Mr. Deneen would have been willing
, 10 make his campaign on strictly state
issues He would have 'straddled the
ombarrasamouts if he had not beer
forced 70 q plain declaration. Forum
] ately for him the progressiyes en-
p Geayorcd 10 etraddle' They wanted
to know whether a man who is III,
candidate of one party would supper
the candidate of another. This i.
y plain enough
1t is not a mere protest agains
=. Mr. Tafts nomination by the repub
, lean party says Senator Dixon. %
Of Mr. Wilson's by the democratic
!. party. 70 is NOT question Of Roose
p Welt or Taft. but question Of whethe
there will be a new party or an oil
: party
. THAT IS plain enough and fla
4. enough.
p. The progressive cannot straddl
D. these facts any more than Deneeu Cuul
De- suraddle them. The men who 90 Il
@ third party go out of the republiCa'
3 party They cannot he supporters o
3 the one and candidates in the other
T. "Mr. Dcueen's dilemma was no d
!; lemma a. all He merely had {
e. choose between running on the rt
5 publican ticket as nominated in tn
| direct primaries or resiguing and tai
% ing his place with the new party mer
y He chose TO remain republican. Tha
was his privilege
Just what the progressives mean b
-, saying that Mr.. Deneen was nom
/, mated by only "a per cent Of the pr
mary vote cast for governor s nc
=. apparent This choice tory arEumer
.s is stupidity repeated by progressive.
-, They should pray that their enthus
asm viii permit them to remain on n
square with themselves We are No
prepared to digest any progressive bun
connie There's been a surfeic OF
y from the tories.
n M Deneeu remains as the republ
Is can candidate for governor. The OF,
le sressives will nominate candidate
u against him and against Edward J
8 Dunno the democratic nominee. Thu
Is purely local issues Will be mixed U
With the national issues.
d The Tribune is not afraid OF h
.p word democrat but IL has seen SON
e mighty inefficient government fyin
r democratic colors in the last Two year
is and it believes that democratic succe.
or IN November in the state and in Coo
n. county viii mean a continuance at
n enlargement OF inefficient government
re The Tribune is not fascinated I
IS labels. II has no, hesitated IN u
re past 70 declare its preference for
C democrat over a republican when u
n democrat had merit and the republics
re did not have. Il would no more Il
re lew The national progressive par
u tiinciy N state campaign than
IL would follow the republican PARTY.
y. There are TOO many big Question