The Washington times., 1912-11-13
A PARTY THAT MUST ENDURE.

The New York World argues that because the
Progressive party is not known by that name in a
few States, having captured the Republican organiza
tion in some, and because it was outnumbered in a
handful Of States by the Republican party therefore
the Republican and not the Progressive is the party
entitled to recognition second to tine Democracy
in prestige and organization.
The World asserts that the great Republican
quarrel Of 1912 was neither moral nor economic nor
religious, but wholly personal" 1t lkens the division
of the Republican ranks to feud. 1t says that the
difference in the vote for the two losing tickets only
Shows what the Progressives did for Mr.. Roosevelt
not what they did for anybody else"
This is fine tribute to Colonel Roosevets per.
sonal popularity from one of his most devoted enc.
mics but he does not agree with the estimate Of the
World. In his review of tine election he insists
During the campaign said repeatedly that
this was in no shape or way one-nan move
ment, but a movement for great principles-a
movement which has sprung, as all healthy
movements in our democracy must spring, from
the heart and conscience of the people them
selves This truth must be kept steadily before
the minds of all Of us
The Progressive party has come to stay. II
either of the old parties will endeavor to put
into legislation any one of our pianks 1t can
count hearty support in SO doing; but
We will not contented until the entire plat
form is enacted into law and becomes part Of
Any appeal to the American people regarded as
plea for vindcation in personal feud could no,
have resulted in such unprecedented success in the
face of obstacles that seemed nsurmountable.
1t is undoubtedly true that Mr.. Roosevcts vas
personal popularity counted as large factor. bu
if Mr. Roosevelt has a large following OF admirers
who would vote for him on any ticket he also has q
powerful following of enemies who spare no effor
to damage him. Nor can anyone guess how many
votes we're cast against him for other reason thar
for the false cry that he aspired to Mexlcanlze the
Presidency.
Various reasons why Mr.. Roosevelt should be
beaten for what were falsely alleged to be his per
sona ambitions and personal disqualifcations were
vigorously set forth throughout the campaign. Nons
was more energetic and persistent in advancing these
allegations than the New York World. If this un
justified line of argument was effective-and tht
old party organs nearly all kept it up unscrupu
lously-the votes cast against Mr.. Roosevelt on per
sonal grounds alone have equaled the votes cas-
for him on personal grounds alone.
So that it is Just as Mr.. Roosevelt himself says
the astonishing strength Of the Progressive party il
due to the power Of tine principles it stood for. 1t
wildly absurd to say that more than 100000 vote
represent the willingness of the American masses t
take sides in personal feud, or to follow the indi
vidual fortunes of brilliant leader, whose ability II
make friends among the plain people is NATURAL!
accompanied by the certainty of making powerful
enemies whose unjust privileges he assails.
Mr.. Roosevelt does not exaggerate the achieve
rnent in which he had so large share when he say
of the showing made by the Progressive party:
No task in any way approaching this has
before been performed by any party In
our country. Such feat, performed by voun--
teers hastily brought together and without any
previous cooperation with each other, against
the trained veterans Of the political arena
these trained veterans including the entire
mercenary forces of potcs-should be
source of pride not only to those who per-
formed the task, but to all believers In good
citizenship and in the capacity OF Americans
for sef-government.
That the Progressves did use some Of the Repub
lican machinery to achieve what they did is to tn
credit not of the Republican party but Of the Progress
sive party, whose capture Of Republican organization
was due to its overwhelming popularity in the terri
tory where the captures made.
To suggest, as the World does, that the oppositio
to the Democratic party should be offered by re
union of the Roosevelt and Taft voters in reorgan
zaton of the Republican party, is to propose tn
impossible The Progressive party is in the hand
of progressive leaders, and the remnant OF the reae
tionary Republican machine is in the hands Of tn
Barneses and the Penroses Republicans who ar
disgusted with the Barnes-Penrose rule of ruin mu;
come over to the Progressves, because theirs is
party Of the past, and the new party is the o
which the nation is building its hopes.