The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-09-26
FRANK E. HOWE, Editor and Pub
RoosEVELT'S VIEWS

South America FORMER PfeSluent
Roosevelt wrote an article for the
October number of the Century Mag
azine which is his most important
utterance probably this year mas
much as it treats OF the future of the
three parties and especially of the
Progressive party.
No matter how any individual may
feel toward Col Roosevelt the fact
remains that he has the greatest per
Gonal following of any man in Ameri-
ca and he is possessed of an aggres-
sive verility and initiative that will
always make him factor to be rec
oned with
He says that there are two funda-
mental reasons for the Progressive
party. namely the fact that there are
no longer any real distinctions be
tween the Democratic and Repubil-
can parties, and that those in con
troll OF each of these parties refuse
to deal with the really vital prob
lens now before the people OF the
United States. lie goes briefly into
the history Of the two older parties
and mentions the new political is
sues that have arisen. lie says that
most of the issues which the average
man Is Interested in have come up
in their present form only within
the past forty years or so. 1t is
necessary TO face certain new tact
whether VIC are concerned with tia
wage-worker. farmer and small bust
ness man, or arc considering the in
terest CT the whole public. What
the people need is to realize the dem
Ocratic ideals that our predecessors
had at heart, even If TO do so means
completely changing the methods
employed The ex-Prosident believes
that the Progressive party is the on
ly instrument by which this impor.
tant object can he achieved unde
present day conditions. Collective
action must he strengthened, but not,
ut the cost of individual initiative.
What is really going on in the iiclt
| of politics is not known to the ram
and iilo of the Republican party
who are in the hands OF the Republi
| can bosses. In Col. Rooseyelt's opm
len, the corrupt methods by whic!
tho Republican national convention
was controlled in the interest of Mr.
Tart we're condoned by many mer
who in their hearts fear the real
control of the people
Col. Roosevelt believes that tn,
Democratic party is diyerting the
people from tho really important is
sues, and that there is no evidence
| to show that the work of that party
| on tile tariff problem will result in
reduction of the high cost of living.
He declares that the Progressives
are for the rights OF the people.
Where state powers will best obtain
! these rights. they are for states
rights; where federal powers will ao-
oomplish the same result, they are
for national rights The Progressive
| plank for social and industrial jus
tice was Concre,e aud definite, &C
oordins to the exPresident. These
propositions arc the FIRST in the hl.
toy Of the country showing the pur.
pose of national party 10 emplo.
The instrumentality OF the govern
ment sanely for the purpose of &C
comprising industrial botterment
Up TO this time social and indus
trial reform have usually beef
thought of as municipal problems
1t is important, however, hat ",
should realize that there can be "a,
lasting p osnority unless The farme
| prospers. The government shoult
assist the farmers to organize, as the
wage-workers and business men
have organized.
lie recommends an Interstate In.
dustrial Commission for the control
OF trusts, similar to the Interstate
| Commerce Commission. lie is ais,
IN favor OF q heavily progressive tax
] ON inherited wealth. Constitutional
amendment is now possible but he
declares that its processes are too
long and uncertain. The Progress
siNes are vitality concerned in seeing
that the people have the uper hand
Owe both public scryants--the court
aud the legislature. .....
I'm summing up his Century Maya
zine article. Col. Roosevelt says thai
the Progressive party believes that
the government should be concerned
chiefly with those matters Of greatest
importance to the average man and
tho average woman. and should take
for its special province tho task OF
making theis conditions in life easier
and to this end that the people
should directly control. with self-re
siraint and sanity. the agencies OF
their own government.