The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-29

tional legislation and administration
can both standpat Republicans and
PrOgreSSiveS agree upon as a basis for
future harmonious action? And what
assurance have the Progressives that
the reactionaries will stand by such
an agreement if made? In other
words, can more than four million
Progressive voters afford to abandon
a political organization that represents
in its national platform pledges public
policies and fundamental principles of
government ideals that are far in ad-
vance of any declaration of political
faith that has ever been approved by
a national party in the United States,
and return to a political party that is
now and has been under the DONNA
ton and control of political bosses
who are constitutiona1ly and eVerlaSt-
ingly opposed to Progressive policies
and principles
Defines Dividing Lines.
1.-The Payne-Aldrich tariff bill, with
its prohibitive schedules and the Taft
Winona speech mark the impossible
gulf that divides Progressives from
standpatters on tariff legislation The
Understandable railroad bill with it's
numerous jokers and vicious provi-
SionS, which were utterly annihilated
and reconstructed by the Progressives,
indicates the vast difference of opinion
which exists in regard to control Of the
big corporations. In the Lorimer
custer cases, the standpatters, both
most solidIy to legalize the corrupt
election of a United States senator.
The StandpatterS voted against chang
ing the rules which vests absolute
representatives in congress, while the
ProgreSSiveS voted for a new set of
rules for the purpose of restoring free
government to the people.
LAS in the nation, so in the several
states, the reactionaries of both par
ties have voted and worked to defeat,
delay or nullify by joker amendments
the most important legislation that has
been enacted for public weIIare during
recent years. In state legislatures a
continuous battle has been waged to
protect the public against extortion,
discrimina ton, unjust rates and domi-
nation of politics by railroads. The
power of the professional bread and
butter politicians has been restricted
through the primary election law, anti
pass law, and civil service rules for
state employees. State institutions have
been placed upon a humane and BUSH
ness1ike basis and their employees have
been largely removed from political
domination and control. State govern
ment has in a large measure been re-
stored to the people through the lead
ership of progressive epublicans in
Republican states and progressive
Democrats in Democratic states. The
reactionaries of both parties have
waged a bitter warfare against practi-
cally every reform measure that has
been proposed for. state and nation.
The initiative, referendum and recall,
the recall of judicial decisions and all
legislation which has for its purpose
the enactment of laws which will
bring industrial and social justice to
the wage workers of the country are
apparently intolerable to the reac-
tionary politicians and the Wall street
masters.
I'm view of the vast difference in the
legislative and administrative past rec
ords of the reactionary and Progress
sive Republicans, would it not be per-
fectly proper and eminently fari for
Mr. Taft Mr.. Barnes, Mr.. Penrose or
some one who can speak with authori-
ty to state publicly over his own sig
nature wherein the standpatters agree
with the Progressive national platform
of 1912, before serious consideration is
given to their harmony program? Has
Mr. Taft, national leader of the reac-
tionaries forgiven the 'neurotics' and
will he welcome them back as eligi-
BILE to the representative class of citi-
zens' fit to govern the nation? Or
does Mr.. Taft propose to take back
his words, come over and stand on the
Progressive platform and let all this
people rule?
Doubts Sincerity of Regulars.
Would Penrose, Barnes, Crane. Taft.
Iorimer and Guggenheim and the lit
tie under-Republican bosses through
out the country support and vote for
a genuine Progressive if he were nom
mated for president on the harmony
ticket in 1916? Would the reactionary
Republicans in Kansas, for instance,
who bolted the Republican state ticket
in 1910 and voted for the Democratic
governor and congressman in 1912, vote
for Progressive candidates for governor
and United States senator in 1914 If
they were nominated on a harmony
deal, or would they again vote the
Democratic ticket? If they would not