Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-01-11
Republicans Progressive.

1t was characteristic of the Pop
ulist movement that it sought to
create the impression that it was the
only party that stood for the people,
and the same thing is true of the Bull
Moosers. But as the Republicans
were working along lines of all good
that the Populist and have since ac-
complished many of the things ad-
yocated by that party so in the pre-
sent case the Republicans stand for
all that is beneficial in the Progressive
platform In his speech at Indepen-
dence Arthur Capper said:
''The Progressive movement as /
see it, seeks to protect the weak a.
gainst the cupidity of the strong and
powerful. 1t seeks to restore to the
tai powers those rights which have
been usurped by privilege. 1t seeks
to render all governmental functions
less complex and complicated. And
in this line let me say that believe
we should fight with all the earnest
ness possible for less technicality and
speedier justice in courts for the
strict and impartial enforcement of
the laws of the state without fear or
favor, for rich and poor alike"
Fine words, these. But there is no
aspiration there that is not shared by
men of all parties. To protect the
weak against the cupidity of the
strong has been the aim of the Re
publican party ever since it was Or
ganized to resist the encroachments
of human slavery. The statue books
are burdened with laws enacted for
this purpose. There was much talk
during the administration that pre-
ceded this one of wrestling the rights
of the people from the grasp of prI-
vilege and there has been much effort
in that direction during this admins
tration.
To secure speedy justice and less
technicality in our courts is the de-
sire of the vast majority of men, but
that the laws delays are invoked
more often for the rich man than for
the poor IS denied. Nor do we be-
lieve that any wise lover of justice
Awill hold for moment that it will
be we'll for our judge to sit upon the
bench trembling with fear lest the
rabble will not agree with them in
their Interpretation of the law.
But the point we would make is
that in all things involving the vel
fare of mankind the desire of the Re
publican accords with that of the
Progressive and there was therefore,
not only necessity for going outside
the Republican party to secure what
is good in the Progressive platform
but, On the other hand, the chances
of securing it were greatly lessened
by the course taken by the adherents
of Roosevelt
Henry j. Allen has said to at least
one prominent Kansan that the offer
was made to him at the time of the
national Republican convention to
nominate someone else than Taft If
the Roosevelt men would agree to
some one else than Roosevelt, that he
carried the offer to Mr.. Roosevelt and
that it was refused by him. 1t has
been tod hundred times, and never
denied, that the Taft men offered TO
compromise upon Hadley and that
Roosevelt emphatically refused to "a
gree to it.
Now, had Mr.. Roosevelt been will
ing to forego his ambition and assist
in the nomination of HadIey or Cum
minis does any one doubt that we
would today have Republican presi-
dent elect and that the Progressive
cause would be entrenched to power
instead of being almost without a
foothold in the country. Let us get
together and get in shape to get re-
sults.-Leavenworth Times.