Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-12-18

it would be possible to bring the two together IN or
der to form strong opposition party to force the Democratic
party do it's best while in power and to make another
stand for the protection of American labor and American
markets when another opportunity presents itself.
Various semi-ofca announcements looking in the drec
ton named have been issued but the meeting of the repub
national committee in Washington to-day for the profess
ed purpose of paving the for such reunion affords the
first opportunity for official action that really count
the side of progress toward such a contamination.
When similar convention in Vermont was suggested
Of the of bringing the two wings of the party
together and opinion to the ACCESSIBILITY of such
asked for replied that if such gathering
could meet and adopt concilatory with reason
ably progressive men dominating the conference and shap
ing whatever enuncation of principles might be made it
would unquestionaby be a step in the right direction
IT, the other hand, the uncompromising spirit
shown in such convention manifest in the epub
can national convention of 1912 both sides and the gath
erng resulted III fight along these lines dominated
the republican national convention in 1912 then in
estimation such gathering in Vermont at this time would
be disastrous
Nay believe the result would be to prevent the
progresves from Joining with the republicans and help to
establish the Progressive party less permanent
basis in Vermont
This would surely be the if the conference
to be shaped in the interest of the candidacy of in
dva representing the extreme conservative faction which
dominated the republican national convention in 1912
We honestly believed that unless such untrammeed
conference convention could be held in Vermont it would
be far better let the situation work itself out and give the
bitter feeling between the wings of protection further
opportunity to disspate itself
The republican national committees meeting to be held
in Washington to-day called for the announced purpose
of considering national convention to be convened the
ing concate the progressives by reducing the
resenaton of the Southern States which used both in
1908 by Roosevelt to prevent the nomination of Hughes and
to nominate Taft and again 1912 to the nomination
of Roosevelt and to nominate Taft again Roosevelt in this
instance being "hoist by his petard.'
Another proposition to be considered the changing
of the basis of representation from the dstrict unit to
system which would recognize the primary law of the re-
spectve States.
Still another proposition limitation of the powers
of the national committee to avoid the possibility of
charges like those which made in connection with the
republican national convention of 1912
The project of securing the concerted efforts of the
pubcans and progressves seemed in fair to bring
suits, but the very of the meeting of the republican
national committee Senator Ganger nominated for the
publican nomination in 1916 United States Senator Ehu
Root of New York whom the progressve recognized the
brains well the head and front Of the uncompromng
republicans of the Taft wing in the republican national
venon of 1912
To make the situation still unpropitious for get
together attract the progressves exPresdent
Taft who recognized Chairman Root his spokesman in the
Chicago convention, published this declaration:
The nomination of Senator Root for president of the Uni
ted States by the Republican party would be gratifying to
me-highly gratifying l regard Mr. Root statesman
in the class Alexander Hamilton He is than
a statesman too. He is profound lawyer"
Now nobody gansay Senator Roots possession of
preemnent ability and of all the qualifications of great
constitutional lawyer and all that any than could
dcredt the greatness of George F. Edmunds of Vermont
Everybody of political knew however, the cond
tons such that it unreasonable expect Senator
Edmunds could be elected president Of the United States
Every political neophyte let alone every of polit
cal experience and observation ought to know that is al
together too early nominate candidate the
presidency in 1916 that the pushing of the of Root
at this time would be like shaking red flag before bull
for the great mass of progresve even if he could be
mated later when the bitterness of last had been al
lowed to disappear
AS the situation stands the projection of the Root
candidacy the OF the meeting of the republican
national committee by Galnger and his endorsement by
Taft looks like concerted effort to carry out the threat of
the New Hampshire senator that republican reorganization
would be effected by the standpa leaders and not the pro-
gressive republicans.
If in any doubt to the effect of this
the of the convention to attract progessve have
only to picture the Progressive party holding meeting
to attract republicans and the very of the gathering
exploiting the of Roosevelt their candidate in 1916
three years hence
We have been trying to make it possible for Vermont
pubcans and progressves to get together 1t begins to look