Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1912-10-29
"a Real Progressive
Is Woodrow w ilson
FOLLOWER OF LA TOILETTE Ex.
PRESSES HIS VIEWS OF DEM
OcRATtC CANDIDATE.
SAYS HE CAN MEET THE DE.
MANDS PROPERLY MADE
UPON A PRESIDENT.

Il
qualities essential for great pro
pressive President. He is courage
Gus and straightforward; he is able
and firm and sound of judgment. He
! is patien tand open-minded. He is
thoroughly democratic in spirit. He
recognizes that all of the people are
entitled to equal opportunities; and
he appreciates that the development
| of all of the people is essential to
| the fulfillment of our American
ideals. He understands the dangers
incident to the control by few men
! of our industries and of our finance.
!. He sees that true democracy and So
cial and Industrial justice are unat-
ltainable, unless this power of the few
| be curbed, and our democracy be-
comes industrial as well as political.
| He can meet the demands properly
made upon a present-day executive,
| to lead in constructive craftsmanship,
as well as to administer efficiently.
And his character, intellectual power,
and previous training fit him peculiar
| ly to take an important part in pro-
gressive legislation
4 In the progressive movement there
are three necessary periods The
first is investigation; the second, agi
ltation: the third, legislation They
are, in the main, successive periods,
( but each overlaps the other to a GER
/ tain extent. The work of investiga-
Ition and of agitation have been large
w performed. Men of insight have
discerned and disclosed the evils exI
listing in our Industrial social and
political institutions; and the danger
to the common veal.
! Eve of Victory Has Come.
Men of courage and of emotion, eni
bowed with the dramatic qualities Of
the great preacher, have pierced eveIl
that armor of Snug complaisancI
with which prosperity is apt to enl
velop the heart and head The somi
nolent have been aroused; the indif.
ferent have been fired with enthus,
iasm; the tfmid have at last learned
to fear the evil more than they fear
the evil doer. The eve of victor1
has come
A large majority of the AmericaI
people recognize that grave abused
exist and are anxious to put an END
to them. We progressives are now
Sufficient in number to compel thS
adoption of remedies. But the mosf
ldifficult task is before us-that of do
vising the appropriate remedies and
determining how they may be bes
applied. For this we need, as Pred
ident. a man with the qualities ratheI
Eof the constructive statesman, than d
the warrior. We need mind tha{
grows rather than leaps into thing1
progressive. We need deep synf
pathy for the common people, and
that absolute respect for them anc
for the truth which made it impossf
BILE for Lincoln to attempt to deceive
men even for their own benefit.
Willingness and Capacity Needed
We need, in addition to the mani
. Virtues and quick intelligence, tn
, Istudent quality of diligent, patient II
iquiry; that true -mindednedX
: which makes one willing to listen, &
well as to speak, and that calm, ca
, iful, hard think ing which is essent
, to sound judgment on legislation, M
, which it is proposed to make impW
tant changes in our political, indH
! trial or political institutions. u
{ need the will to labor, as well as
, lpower to achieve.
n These are the qualities essential W
t a safe and effective leader of the n
, lpressive movement in its prs
: istage; and these qualities Covert
, Wilson possesses in a pre-emin
> degree. His longing for the alta
{ ment of democratic ideals, as well
, his ability to achieve, found exp
sion in those well considered la
| which, as Cornelius Ford. presid
of the New Jersey Federation ~
) Labor, declared, obtained for the 4 q
, Iple of New Jersey ''in the first
, days of his administration more ba
fetal legislation than had been pas
in the preceding nine years"
i democratic instinct made him E
! lyolt at the domination of wealth, e.
4 when clohted in the refined and
i tured traditions of his own universe
) And his strength and high purEE#
1 were exhibited, when with calm
) termination, he rose superior to ID
I bosses, local and national. &c
Has Nothing to Explain. ma
There is nothing in his present Ht 10
v tions, or his past relations whict
! quires explanation or extenuation. \.
. would not resort to unworthy me0
+ even to advance most worthy 81
/ He was nominated by the pepolW
: spite of the bosses and in spitas
n every effort of the vested inteH ~
r to prevent his selection His &4a
! paign is being conducted so "A
q avert the possibility of entanglinW
r liances. He stands now-and VI
5 stand as President-pledged onlE
) 1.-THE American people.
t The progressive movement n
Iquires, however, for success not
r La leader, fut followers; and not
d followers at the polls, but coo
n ton in Congress. Progressive se
: ures cannot be enacted unless al
v jority of the House and Senate
e accord with the President. As n,
!. Iernor Wilson truly said: ~
dt Politics now, at last, is int
/ practical and real. We cam
g ford to wait another four years.
il processes of reform in this e
must take place within the mex
Years. IF the leader of thek
lparty is made President what "a
his situation? Does anybody
lpose he will have a third party
l. orocc hohfud h;ru7 If 10 MT m