The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-13

I. r. AGAINST HIRAM
b, MATTER WELLMAN.

BY WALTER wELIsMAN.
NEW YORK, July 12.~z-Strange
things are happening within the Pro-
gressive party, happenings sensation
IL even If hitherto well concealed,
and only Just now being To be spok-
en- of above a whisper; happenings
which are future of American poll
tics. and which throw strong, even
II not conclusive, light upon the dues-
tons so many men are now asking;
els the Progressive party Ia live
or will Il amaigamate with the old
Republican organization on some
terms of compromise 2"
The writer deducfs from n CONVEX
sstion with Amos P}nchof. which ap-
pears in the article, together with
known facts that the Progressive par
ty is fast splitting into factions. and
there is little hope of reconciliation
between them.
The Signs at the Crossing.
Colonel Roosevelt and George w
Perkins and Albert Bexeridre, are
at the head Of the one column the
Pinchots, Governor johnson, Jane
Adams. and a large number Of
others equally prominent. lead the
Others.
AT the forks If the road where they
parted company may he seen two big
signhoards;
This way to social justice with
regulation Of privilege and monop-
oily" reads one.
This way to abolition of privilege
and MISREPRESENTATION is a
fraud reads the other.
AS the colonel and George and Al
bert GO swinging down tho first road
the colonel Is saying to George. and
George to the colonel. and Albert to
both Of me others. all at the same
time: I'VE are the only true Progress
sivee, with a large F."
AZ the Pinchots, and Governor
Johnson and Jane Adams, and their
friends. meander down the other
path they are also talking one 10 the
other, ali in the same breath. and
wondering If there is any one listening
in the hedges by the roa dside:
Tired of Fake stuff.
1--WE are tired of this social Justice
childs play this fakerish stuff, this
soft soaping of the innocent. We want
TO 10 at something of mans size
Every holder of special privilege, ev-
cry expioiter of the people by means
of a private monopoly, every wal
lower In the peif of the trusts in this
country Is hoping and praying for the
success Of our friends who are over
there on that other and wrong road"
Such is the Progressive party with
in less than year after the pres'-
dental election which showed fits sur
prising strength among the voters.
II was really the coming municipal
campaign here in New York that has
tened the crisis.s In this town there
are lot Of Progressive who got to-
gether and talked 1t over. and came
to a conclusion somewhat like this:
Here is great opportunity for
the Progressive party to show its met
TEn NAT ha.
people of New York city Ia not unlike
that before the people of the nation.
What is the question here In the city :?
1t is the excessive cost of everything;
the excessive cost OF living; the ex-
cesslve cost OF all the necessaries OF
life.
s'The municipal questions ana the
national questions are much the same,
and here In the chance Tor the Pro-
gressiye platform. which means some
thing men with rtd blood and strong
arms and stout hearts can be proud
to fight for"
So they put the municipal aues-
ton. az a reflex OF the national ques-
ton, up to the colonel. And the col
onei before running away to the wilds
Of Arizona. gave his answer in n
speech at the reunion and rally OF
the Prosressives. at Newport. Col
onel Roosevelt reiterated in stronger
language perhaps than he had ever
before used, that he stood with George
Perkins and Judge Gary for .'regu-
lafion" OF trusts and monopolies. The
answer, in view of the efforts that had
been made 70 get him over on the
other track. apparently settled the
business
Talks With Amos.
II was in hope of learning more
about this extraordinary situation In
the political party which cast the
second highest vote in the presiden-
tial election OF last year. and nearly
80 per cent of the total vote, that
fiEhting Amos Pinchot was asked to
tell me what he thinks of the future
OF his party. and whether In his opin-
ion that party is TO live or die.
We are a new party he replied.
1--WE cannot depend upon tradition.
From the beginning of the organiza-
ton of the Progressive party we have
set a high standard, and made the
CLAIM, that we were going to do some
thing a little different. and better
than the old parties. We have frank
political victory only. but to fight priv
i1ege and establish a real democracy
and economic Justice.
Prom the outset we have framed
our campaigns rather as crusades than
as political fights, I have watched
with apprehension a tendency on the
part OF some Progressive leaders to
get on The wrong side IN certain eco-
nomic questions which are. in fact
the only great issue Of the time.