The Greeley tribune. [volume] (Greeley, Colo.) 1870-1913, 1912-04-04
AN OPEN LETTER
To the members of the Roosevelt

To the members of the Roosevelt
Club:
Gentlemen, you have now enlist
ed two thousand men in this county
with probably five thousand more
sympathizers. You have just won
| an astonishing victory against the
allied hosts of the office holders.
| You are now resting on your arms
and with a pleased smile you are
viewing the scene of the recent bat
tie This is all right for while.
But l desire to remind you that
since the battle your candidate for
president has suffered rather Sc
we're reverses and present indica-
lions are that he will not lead US.
What are you going to do?
Are we going to quit fighting be-
cause a general has been disabled?
l desire to remind you that most of
US enlisted for the whole war and
We didn't expect to quit after the
first skirmish. 1t is principles not
persons we are fighting for. There
are many of our best men who
were more pleased with Rosevelt's
principles than his personality, and
they enlisted with that understand
ing.
II Roosevelt is defeated for the
l take it that you
will simply change the name of
your army and march on. You can
win in the county if you will.
But you must tell the people Just
where you stand-you must declare
yourself. If you will fling your
new banner to the breeze and adopt
a good platform you can win, and
win without the republican Organi-
zation in this county.
You have not been overly strong
on resolutions. AS man in the
ranks would you let me suggest a
rough working plan? Here is one:
Declaration Of Principles
We, the members of the Republic
can Progressive club of Weld
county, Colorado. in meeting duly
assembled, hereby declare our al
legiance to progressive republican
principles and more specifically de-
clare as follows:
LIST. We are unalterably opposed
to all forms of graft, direct or in
direct. and all improper profiting
of individuals from public Office, or
any compensation to such officers
beyond the fees and salaries estab-
lished by law. We are further OPP
posed to all waste, extravaganza
and unbusinesslike methods, in the
administration of county offices.
We hereby pledge ourselves Jointly
and severally to use every influence
to lessen the expense OF county gov
eminent, to the end that the burden
of the taxpayers may be reduced to
a minimum.
End. We are opposed to all re-
dictionary theories of government,
both in nation. state and county
which would refuse to the
people their Just and proper partici.
patton in popular government. We
re-affirm and declare that no mar
is so wise or great that he has 9
right to govern another man with
out such other mans consent; thai
the safeguard of the peoples liber
ties is in the highest development
of popular government. to the enc
that government for, of and by thu
people may be an assured fact.
3rd. We especially favor for GU
United States senators and member
of congress, and for state senat,
and lower house, m who are IL
sympathy with progressive prin
! ciples and in heartiest accord will
! the highest development of popula
government. We therefore pledg
} ourselves to use all reasonable an,
honorable means to procure tn
) selection OF such men to such OF
fees and only such men.
. 4th. We believe IN the initiativ
and referendum. properly safe
guarded and conservatively used
not as a substitute for representa-
tive government but as auxiliar
thereto, to be used sparingly, an
then only when all reasonable 81
fort has been unsuccessfully mad
with the legislature to induce til
passage Of such laws a. are Of ger
| orally admitted desirability.
5th. We favor the recall of ord
nary. slate. county and city officer,
and believe that with this check o
abuse Of office that tho term of Of
nce Of our county. city and stat
| 'o6icers may be safely lsngthens