Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-27
NO EXCUSE FOR EXISTENCE.

There is no possible excuse for the
existence of the Bull Moose party be-
yond the statement that it has been
created by Theodore Roosevelt for
the sole and express purpose of fur
nishing him an opportunity to run
for office and to give him coterie
of voters to whom he may dictate
and perpetuate his power The pro-
gressives stand for no principal that
the Republican party does not repre-
sent it is pledged to no reform that
the Republican party has not prom
ised the people. Every great reform
adopted in this country, every pro-
gressve movement of the past so
years, has come through and by the
Republican party. 1t has led in every
instance, and has been instrumental
in making this the most prosperous
nation on earth. 1t has met all pub
lie questions fearlessly, and openly
and has, in the end, won a victory
for the people. TO be sure its pro-
gress has been harassed and impede
ments placed in it's way by other or
ganizations, but it required but short
trial of a few years to convince the
people that only under Republican
rule could the prosperity of the nation
be established beyond all doubt.
One of the greatest crisises in his
tory faced the country in 1896, but
the Republican party bravely met the
issue and the outcome showed the
soundness of its arguments and its
platform In that year the DETECTION
of thousands of "Silver Republicans"
threatened the party with defeat, yet
1t won one of the greatest popular
victories in all it's existence. The
people registered their confidence in
the party by returning it to power
after four years of panic and depres-
sion, the direct result of the policies
and vagaries of it's opposing political
adversary.
That history will repeat itself in
1912. The Observer truly believes
There are steadfast adherents of
Roosevelt who will declare that he
will sweep the country in November
or at least will prevent the re-elect-
ion Of President Taft, and thus en-
compass the defeat Of Republican
principles. But the present genera
tion has not forgotten the dark days
of 1892-1S96, and the voters will
think twice before they cast their
votes for Roosevelt or Wilson. Their
present prosperity is a reality and
they are not likely to risk it's discOn
tlnuance by responding to the per-
sonal appeals of the Bull Moose
merely to substantiate his leadership
and dictation.
That there is no real excuse for
the existence of the Bull Moose or
ganization it is only necessary to call |
attention to the assertion that, If
there was no Roosevelt there wouldn't |
be any Bull Moose party. Had Roose-
welt died three months ago, it would |
never have been organized. Even the
most enthusiastic supporter of the
will admit that, If you |
pin him down to a simple answer |
Not one bullmooser in 100 can tell |
party. It's only Roosevelt with him.
lie is willing to run any sort of risk,
any wild. untried flight, |
adopt any radical measures, even to
overthrow established traditions, .
simply to crafty Roosevelts ambi-
ton That's the whole thing with .
him. He doesn't care what becomes |
of the country, only so that the dem
agogue of Oyster Bay may again be-
come president of the United States.
The Bun Moose party is the refuge
Of every political dmagogue and po-
litlcal trimmer In the country Look
at the personnel of the organization
In oregon. Isn't IL choice collect
ion of has-been and er-wasers?
Certainly II has a few adherents who
are honest and conscientious. hut they
are mighty few. Realizing the han
iicap under which they were labor
Ing. Roosevelt and his underlings
have eXerted every effort To counter
act the idea that Il is "a one-man
but they have signally
failed. The fact is too apparent 10
admit OF successful contradiction.
The Observer does not believe that
such a movement. built solely upon
he personal ambition of man who
IS trying 20 wreck the only party Of
progress in the nation today. can
succeed.