The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-01-10
OF COURSE NO ALLIANCE WITH THE
BOSSES.

In discussing the proposals ano susSeS'oiS ioon'
ing to an alliance of progressive voters OF the Re-
publican and Bull Moose partes-NOT AN AL
LANCE WITH MACHINES OR BOsSEs-nobody
is justified in hanging his argument-for or against
ON what the attitude of machine bosses and oldtime
leaders is or might be. The question does not begin
there. and it cannot end there. The question does
not include any mercy consideration for the ma
chine bosses and old-time leaders
Nor can anybody be justified in hanging his argu-
mentor or aganst-on condition of reputation
of principles and surrender of convictions.
Nobody could suppose that it would be possible to
induce members of the Progressive party to trade
away essential principles for conflicting principles of
another party There could never be thought of
this by anybody who had the slightest comprehension
of the temper and spirit of the millions of American
citizens who formed new party to fight for their po-
litical ideals.
Critics say that the difficulties of joining the
voting members of the Progressive party and of the
Republican party in common movement are insur-
mountable because the principles in which they be-
lieve are so Numerically opposite But they not
If they were it would be idle to talk think of get
ting them together. But they far from diametri-
cally opposite. In comparatively few things do they
differ widely In things they are very close to-
gether This is particularly true as regards the broad
economic policies.
1t is true that all of the bosses and most of the
old-time leaders of the Republican party are in
fict with the principles and ideals of the Progressive
party. But they equally in conflict with the prin-
cples and ideals of the progressive element of their
own party perhaps two-thirds of its voters. And it
is this two-thirds of the Republican party with which
the Progressive party should be able to meet on
common ground.
Before the first Chicago convention the bosses
were managing the affairs of their party not because
they had the confidence of its rank and fe but be-
cause they had possession of its machinery.
After the first Chicago convention the rank and
file of the Republican party did follow those still
in control of its machinery because of renewed con-
fdence in them. They had even less confidence in
them than before. They stayed in their party not
because Of but in spite Of those bosses and leaders
They stuck to it in the hope of saving it.
Now those Republicans-the rank and Ge-know
from their experience at the last election that the re-
sponsbility for all that happened the Republican
party rests upon those machine bosses and oldtme
party leaders who could not last year and who prob
ably never at any time be brought to see that pro-
gressiye principles are the principles of the rank and
file, not only of the Bull Moose party, but of the Re-
publican party.
Here is the very heart Of the question of bringing
The rank and file of the Republican party and of the
Progressive party together. Bringing them together
because in the main they believe in the same things
and want to accomplish in the main the same things
Bringing them together not with old machine leaders
and PRACTICES old machine indifference to and de-
fance of public sentiment-not with any of the old
time men or things, but WITHOUT them
Let us repeat that MIR. Munseys suggestion of
means of getting together voters who in the main
think alike and have the same convictions did not pre-
suppose dickering with or having anything to do with
the bosses of the Republican party. The proposal
was clearly written in this respect.