The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-01-31
PROGRESSIVE BREAKUP.

The breakup OF the so-called Pro
, gressive party is undoubtedly progress
ing with rapidity. It has been noted
heretofore that there is no member of
either House Of Congress who has
ranked himself officially as Pro
grcssive; all Senators and Representa-
tives are either Republicans or Demo,
Gratis. And now, the Progressives play
but minor parts in the political activ-
; ities of the States, getting nothing for
themselves, and effecting only choice
now and then as between Republican
and a Democrat, as in the iust"com-
pleted adjustment in Illinois.
The defiant proclamation of Colonel
Roosevelt that all must yield to the
Progressive idea and the Progressive
organization, with him at the head, is
impracticable altogether. When peo-
pie are told that they have to give up
completely. and surrender without re-
serve, to some arbitrary demand, they
naturally resent and resist, and that is
precisely what is happening now.
Besides that, every one recognizes
that there is nothing either worthy or
practical in the Progressive demands
There is lot of wild talk about letting
the people rule, about recalling every
body that does not favor giving the
people their way in everything, and
there is fervent denunciation Of bosses
by members OF party who follow the
! ~,
more blindly, more implicitly, and moro
submissiveiy than Americans ever fol.
lowed any boss heretofore in the his.
tory Of the Republic. The only differ
ence is that the Progressives call their
bosses leaders, and as leaders they out
shine the bosses in arbitrary power in
imperious dictation, ten to one.
Large numbers of Progressives have
gone back TO the Republican party, and,
as stated those IN official position still
rank themselves as Republicans In
Idaho, where the Progressives were so
very strong, not one member of the
Legislature calls himself Progressive
they are all marked either Republicans
or Democrats. And so the return of
Senator Borah is secure, and the weak
euing effect of the inter.party fight is
avoided.
| In this connection we may note that
| Governor Tener of Pennsylvania in a
public address while ago in the fol
lowing language:
! No man who has been denounced pub
1iTl hc IT Trif nj
States as the worst boss ever known in
the history OF Pennsylvania-a man who
has been pillorled in formal speech on
the floor OF the Senate OF the United
States as a corrupter OF legislatures
| municipal councils and county officials
! for his own enormous enrichn ent--no
man who has gone on the witness stand
before committee OF Congress clothed
with authority TO inquire into campaign
slush funds. and has testified to his own
iniquity: no such creature can expect 10
dominate, control. and misuse the gem
erai assembly OF Pennsylvania
Now, it is to be observed that this is
good public doctrine. 1t is wholesome
comment upon phase Of political agi-
tatiou that has been disturbing the
country for a good many months. And
yet the Progressive organ in Pbiladel-
phia denounced this utterance Of Gov.
ernor Tener with a wildness of invec-
tive and bitter denunciation scarcely
ever known heretofore. II assumes
that the man who Is aimed at Is former
boss but now leader. Finn, and that
tho Progressives of Pennsylvania are
aimed at generally in that appeal for
purity and honesty in politics It is
remarkable how thoroughly the Pro.
gressive newspapers and speakers are
converted 10 the idea that no matter
how dark. vicious, and altogether vii |
famous Republican boss NAV have
been, he comes out white as snow. an |
immaculate leader, Immediately upon
being received into the Progressive |
party. But We take IL that Governor |
Tener would not make a public ad. |
dress like this unless ne was doubtful |
that the Progressives (if indeed II was |
the Progres.ives who were aimed at) |
were a vital force in the politics of |
Pennsylvania; for Governor Tcner is a /
politician, and is likely to read the |
signs OF political movement Alright. and
so reading them. he evidently has no |
fear of the Progressives in Pennsyl.
vania.
And so It goe. throughout the coun.
trv. The Progrcssives have made their |
big fight. and viii be, a. we have said |
.g-Eiufnrn % The Rcnnhiiran r,ar.y NO