Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-09-25
THE "DECIINE AND FALL" OF THE
THIRD PARTY.

1t has been commonly observed that
just as the progressive movement made
its start in the West. gradually NOV
ing eastward, so the paralysis of death
seemed to be creeping over it in the same
geogra phiCal course. Everybody has
known Of the collapse of the third party
in the West. 1t has remained stronger
in Maine and Massachusetts,. by common
observation. than anywhere else in the
Union. Maine had an election recently
which disclosed how hollow, however,
are progressive hopes in these last of
its stronEholds.
The collapse of the Progressive party
in Maine Is little short of pitiful Only
las November It's vote exceeded that for
Taft by nearly two to one. Recently Its
vote was less than half that cast for
the republican nominee. Political history
may be searched in vain for an exhibit
of SO rapid dislntegratiou There is
something uucanny, disquicting. almost
gruesome, in such a prccipitatc decline.
one wonders # tn" American people have
sufficient cvcnncss Of political temper,
when they 70 in such large numbers into
a party, only to leave it as If someone
had shouted fire"
The progressive organs asserted vocif-
erously that Lawrence was going to win.
and he was a candidate of admirable
qualifications. much like those of Charles
S. Bird here. They surely expected to
retain second place Main" laws put
many offices at the disposal of the two
leading parties" the progressves natu-
rally wanted to be one of them. But they
baE 8,
to say that they will not again figure
seriously In Pine Tree State politics.
They have gone the way of all the third
parties of the past
The progressive leaders in the district
had put forth every effort that would
help them hold the advantage they gain
ed last fail. Spellhindcrs Of no less re-
nown than ex-senator Bevcridge ex-Sc'-
rotary Garfield, eX-Attorncy- General Bon
aparte, eX-Speaker Walker of MasSaChu-
sets, and other "eX's" of pomp and cir
cumstance, toured the district from end
to end, The people formed out in crowds
and listened attentivcly, as they lid
when Bryan and Champ Clark made
their whirlwnd tours there last week.
The result in Maine indicates a de-
cided reaction against the national ad-
ministration. Peters has plurality over
the democratic candidate with a pro-
Gressive opponent in the field. materially
larger than GuodWiu's last year when
there was a truce between the rcpubli-
cans and progresSivcs of which he was
the beneficiary The opposition to the
democrats was only little over - per
cent. To-day it Is in a majority of 6O0o
and 700. This is due primarily to the
tariff. The Maine verdict Is the first re-
sponsesw the country to the new Wilson
bill, recorded I'm advance Of its enact
ment The size of the total votes ex-
ceeding that on the presidential ballots
last year, affords further evidence of an
intense popular interest in the struggle
The bearing of this result I'm Maine on
the Massachusetts situation is clear If
the Progressive party makes corre-
spending slump here the republican can
ddHte for governor will he elected This
now seems probable. And henceforth the
dwindling of the progressive forces will
proceed rapidly. When the tide begins
to run, and every body realizes that it is
running, the effect of the events of the
campaign is cumulative II has now be
come clearly demonstrated that the pro-
Eressive is not to be the opposition party,
East or West, and that the battle of the
fuure lies between the two old parties
The voters will make up their minds and
express their preference accordingly
They viii, Tin SO doing, nave little pa
thence with side-shows, Charles $ Bird
Is side-show here Just as Lawrence
proved in Maine,