The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-10
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN FOR
Progressive DEMOCRACY


Roosevelt during his second term gave
some encouragement to the movement,
but the chief growth of insurgency in
the Republican party has occurred
during the last four years.
"At the present time it is difficult
to measure accurately the Progressive
strength in the Republican party, but
it is probable that if it could find free
expression at the primaries it would
be found to be a dominant sentiment.
Its expression is not free, however,
for two reasons. First, because the
Presidential-preferenc primaries are
not held in many of the states, and.
second, because the reform sentiment
is now divided between Senator La
Toilette and Mr.. Roosevelt. II it were
concentrated on one man it might be
able to control the Republican Con-
vention but for the Southern con-
tingent in the convention, which does
not represent any sentiment, progress
sive or otherwise-it simply repre-
sents what money or patronage can
purchase.
"The third term objection to Mr..
Roosevelt very materially lessons hIs
ability to represent progressive senti-
ment. II he had taken up the cause
Of Senator La Toilette or some other
renresentafiva Ieadar of +h. p.o-
slVe Republicans and worked as hard
for him as he is now working for him.
self Mr.. Roosevelt could have COM
PEELED the nomination of that leader
at least that is my opinion.
"What element of the Republican
party do you think will control In the
Chicago convention?"
cayety at Chicago.
Il do not care to express an opinion
on that point. I am not fond of max
ing predictions. 1t seems quite GER
tain that Mr., Taft will have more
votes than any other man whose name
is presented; but it is still possible
that Senator La Toilette and Mr..
Roosevelt together may control the
convention.
However, there are indications that
there may be two conventions. This
attempt on the part of Mr.. Taft and
Mr.. Roosevelt to have contesting dele
cations looks like two conventions
were possible; in that case it is hard
for an outsider to fix limit for the
gayety of the week that the conven-
! tion meets"
what about the Democratic sltua-
| tion?"
Il have purposely considered the
Republican situation first, because
Democratic opportunity may be very
materially affected by the results OF
the Republican Convention. with
nine-tenths of the Democratic party
progressive, and nearly if not quite
one-half of the Republican party pro
gressive. the necessity for nominating
a Democrat who Is also progressive
ought to be apparent to any one. In
fact, 1t is SO apparent that no Demo
crat Is an aspirant for the Democratic
nomination as an avowed reactlonary.
Even Gov Harmon is being urged en-
tirely on the ground that he is a pro-
gressive-all his literature is ad-
dressed to the progressives. The
Democratic progressives would be
willing to pay liberal reward for any
literature sent out by his campaign
managers appealing to the reaction
aries. This is the tribute that Wall
street pays to progressives."
"Do you care to discuss the relative
merits of any of the gentlemen who
are candidates for the Democratic
nomination."
Gov. Wilson or Speaker Clark.
NO, | have studiously avoided ex-
pressing any opinion regarding the
relative availability of the two gentle
men who seem to be dividing public
attention-Gov. Wilson and Speaker
CONTINUED on page two.)