The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-14
COLONEL SPEAKS
TO PROGRESS|VES
Founder of Party Is Central
Figure at First Annual
Conference.
OUTLINES ITS GREAT. AIMS
Says 1t Is Impossible for Present
Political and Industrial Con-
ditions to Continue.
OUTLINES ITS GREAT AIMS

Philadelphia, March 13.-Urging the
| need OF thorough Organization for
studying and securing the ideals on
which the platform of the Progressive
party was based. former President
Roosevelt tonight addressed a large.
audience here. The occasion was the
first annual Progressive conference OF
the state OF Pennsylvania
Colonel Roosevelt, Dean william
Draper Lewis, of the University OF
| pennsylvania Law School, and Rev.
George /" Perrin, OF Massachusetts,
M their addresses laid stress on the
educational side OF the work To he
ncGornp,isncd' tie acquiring of social
ana industrial facts on which to base
the necessity az proposed reforms
In introducing Colonel Roosevelt Dean
Lewis said:
we have met here tonight to lis
Ten TO the man who is the leader in
the most wonderful awakening OF the
i'uiFiouai ana group conscience OF
ihouern times. There are few who
doubt that he has done more than any
one man to arouse the conscience OF
me people He is great personal
iorce making for better things"
Why Party Was Founded.
colonel Roosevelt said in part:
, me progressive party has been
rounded primarily TO render social and
Industrial service. This means. or
course. that there must be clean pon-
| TICS Rotten politics in the end means
rotten business and rotten conditions
generally. The first requisite in any
| movement for any species Of better
ment in this country must be honestl,
Ihe party has divided it's activities
| into several branches all Of cour.e
intcrdependcnt. The most characterize
| Tic. the most essential and the most
| original form Of work we are under
] q
service We intend to realize the new
freedom ;or which this nation strives
| ny social research, in which inforrnn-
! uon Is the keynote: and then by tho
! immediate translation OF the knowl-
edge thus acquired into action by "a
! political organization In which ser
! vice is tho watchword. The J'rogrcs-
slVe service branch OF our party ac-
uNlties is devoted to social research.
/ In organized, efficient shape and is en-
deavorihG 10 correlatc IL with the acts
ioi iawmakinS bodies and the needs
OF the public.
we are endcavoring To bring to the
work OF social research the four fun
damentals of accuracy, impartiality
order, and finally spirit in which fer.
| vent. cool-headed zeal. dispassionatc-
ness and kindly goodwill arc All
united. Remember always that we arc
not engaged merely In investigation
without action. We insist that 70
search must precedc Intelligent action.
but We seek to apply our knowledge ns
rapidly as We gain it; the research and
the translation of the research into
action go hand in hand
our party Is not in power. II ia no,
! IN office: but IL Is our duty 10 forinu-
late public opinion and prepare it so
mat IL snail INSIST on action along the
| lines W indicate. We recognize the
urgent need OF strengthening our party
by means Of organization; OF extension
3 ~ he 1t,.,
with equal emphasis that machinery.
while imperativcly necessary. is OF use
only II treated as a practical mcaue oL
/ securing applied realism Tn. pro-
Ttessivc service is organized because
our party for the first time in Inc his
tory OF any great party in this country
1 recognizes that the party organization
can best be strengthened BY con
! tinuous. organized party work for de-
/ mite aims and ideals. our huadquar-
! ters national and State. are TO open
all the year round. so that men and
/ WON II Cor men and women stand on
an absolute equality in our partyJ
can meet 10 discuss political issues and
| social and economic issues 10 talk
openly OF party policies. and 10 plan
for putting little farther in advance
the outposts of progress Our head
| quarters are To be the meeting places
Tor the scholar. the farmer. tina work
insman, the business mainland the
! wives OF all OF them-and the new
! iype OF politician. the politician VINO
| Is practical man of high ideals who
strives 10 reduce these high ideals into
actual practice
Ohers CONGRATULATIONS.
i wish 10 congratulate you men Ia
Pennsylvania upon the night the Pro-
gressiVe party Is making in the Legis-
lature to achieve its purpose and there
] DE Justify it's q II
posed laws are good; the primary law
for instance, and the corrupt practices
act. But peculiar Importance attaches
10 the three acts proposed for regulat-
ing child labor, for regulating the en-
ploymcnt OF women and for creating a
minimum wage for both women ana
children. The underpayment OF wage
earners is one OF the worst evils of our
| present industrial system, and 1t is not
only an evil in itself. but il IL ar me
bottom of the sweatshop problem.
What | have said applies no less to
| the women labor act 1t is wicked
| not TO regulate the working hours and
factory conditions OF the women who
arc compelled to earn their own liy-
ing Al present tho employer who
cares for the health and comfort OF his
workers is at a material disadvant-
age In competition with other en-
| ployers who do for their workers no
more than is demanded by q hare
| compliance with the lax provisions IF
the present law. The task of heinz
both woman and wagc-earner is
| heavy enough at best, and all that We
can do to tighten 1t and to make II
safe and healthy should be done
| The Progressive party was founded
primarily to meet the great awaken
ing of conscience which We have seen
/