St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-05-21
PRESS COMMENT
Personal Interest VS.. PrincipIes a

The appeal issued by ex.-Gov. H.
S. Hadley of Missouri and other
progressive republicans for the eli
mination of the leadership of dis
credited men and the incorporation
of the most progressive principles in
the republican creed is based upon
the sensible plea that two minor
ity parties cannot hope to make
a winning fight for reasonable pro-
lection OF American industries and
the other genuinely American pol
icies.
Governor Hadley has demonstrate
ed that he stands for principles
above personal politics, and if all
republican leaders at Chicago last
June had occupied as broad a plat
form as he insists upon represent
ing, the progressive republicans
would have held the party together,
and the opposition to democratic
Tree trade would be a unit instead
of an important disorganization of
political factions.
Let us candidly examine the
whole situation, as a means to the
end of cooperation in the winning
of supremacy for truly national
principles looking to the highest
degree of prosperity for the whole
United States. The men who did
more for the promotion of the can
didacy of Theodore Roosevelt than
any other, are today calling for
unity of action.
1t will be generally conceded that
Frank A. Munsey was the journal
istic backbone of the Roosevelt can
didacy, throwing all his publica-
tions heartily to the support of the
movement Governor Hadley's
ability and service we're recognized
by his selection of Mr.. Roosevelt as
floor manager in the republican ma
| tional convention.
Both Governor Hadley and Pub
Usher Munsey, as well as host of
others who stood with Mr.. Roosevelt
are now calling for joint action for
the victory of the principles for
which all profess to stand, and yet
Mr.. Roosevelt comes out in declar-
alton that there must be no coop
Grafton; that those who accept his
dictatorship must stand alone.
Indeed Mr.. Roosevelt goes further
and tries to make some people be-
lieve there are only two political
parties in the United States, ignor-
ing the very fact that the republi-
cans are strongly entrenched in |
Congress as well as out of it in the |
various states.
Now as matter of fact, Govern
or Hadley is more truly progressive |
than is Mr.. Roosevelt. He stands for |
progressive principles and he has |
never sacrificed principle for the |
sake of promoting personal ends |
and causing defeat of principles. In |
this respect he presents a striking |
contrast to the man whose inter |
ests he so faithfully served.
Assuming now that reasonable |
protection of American industries |
and the upbuilding of American la
Dor are paramount considerations in
national politics, who are standing
for principles, those who would
bring all supporters of protection
under one flag, or those who
would stand aloof and fritter away
their influence by splitting up their
army into minor divisions, and let
ting the common enemy of protec-
ton beat them in detail?
1t has been demonstrated over
whelmingly that the people as a
whole want neither Mr.. Roosevelt
nor Mr.. Taft again in the White
House.
Why should any body of men or
women continue to sacrifice all the
good that they must believe to be
embodied in their principles, by
seeking to stake all possibilities for
the triumph of a just cause upon
the personal political fortunes of
any single individual?
1t has been demonstrated over
and over again in American history
as we'll as elsewhere that individu-
ais become intoxicated with lust of
power. Even the modest General
Grant allowed himself to be per-
suaded that he could be elected to
the White House for third term
on the plea that he had been in re-
tirement for four years.
The resulting fight between 'stal-
warts and "half-breeds' found it's
legitimate finale in the triumphant
democrats aided by a host of dis
cordant republicans, and in eVentu-
al widespread disaster.
The lessons of that famous strug-
gle should not be lost upon protec-
tionists of this age and generation,
who plainly constitute a great majO-
rity of the American people. We
can i'll afford to violate one of the
fundamental principles of popular
government by subverting all other
interests to the attempt to elevate
one man to the White House indef-
Burlington Free. Press.
An Extra Session
The people of Vermont are inter
ested in the matter of an extra ses-
sion of the legislature not because
they want such a session, but be-
cause they believe it to be newt
able. They regard it as inevitable
because legislation is necessary to
carry into effect the amendments of
the state constitution adopted in
March last. The changes made in
the organic law at that time are
and important and
they cannot become operative until
present statutes have been amended
in accordance with them and the
necessary machinery has been pro-
vided by the legislature.