Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1913-01-25

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man, or will remain a puppet in the
hands of the bosses.
A mere name Is an empty shell.
The collective heart and soul and
brain and force within this shell are
the party. The Republicans Of char
acter and sincerity, under another
name, would still have the same ideals
and the same quality Of citizenship
as they now have. This is equally
true of the Progressives.
The important thing, all else made
right, is a name that would make
possible a nationwide party. But
nation party is not possible to
the Republican men and women OF
America under the Republican name.
The name Republican has not
been accepted in the South in half
century and would not be accepted
in half-century to come. The pre-
JUDGE there is too deep-roOted-pre-
JUDGE both because OF the memories
OF the Civil War, and because since
the war the party has failed to get
footing in the Southern States as
white mans party. No party can
live and be useful political instru-
ment in the South except 1t be p
white mans party.
The complete dominance OF Sec
ton by one party as has been the
case in the South since the war, is
good neither for the section nor for
the party itself 1t Is menace to
the rest of the country. Any solid
section, be 1t North South, East or
West, is menace to the other sec
lions of the country. Political SEN
timent should not be divided upon
geographical lines.
In view of the importance of a
party being nationwide, it is clear
that If the Republican party, as at
present dominated, could swing loose
from clogging and archaic conven-
tions, and could regenerate and vital
ize itself with modern ideas and mod
ern ideals, it would still fall short
of meeting the requirements of the
day. 1t would fall short by reason
of the fact that 1t cannot be, with
in the vision of this generation, a
party of any consequence and stand
ing in the South.
What am saying is said wholly on
my own initiative and absolutely in
dependent of any man or men in
either the Republican or the Pro-
1 gressive party. have purposely
avoided discussing the subject with
Mr.. Roosevelt or with any one else.
/ | wanted to be able to state as a
fact that neither the Progressive nor
the Republican party, nor any lead
er of either, is putting forth this idea
under cover No such intimation or
purpose has ever reached me from
any source, nor have anywhere
heard the idea preached.
In this discussion l am not con-
sidering Mr.. Roosevelt's interests,
or the interests of any other man in
either party. | am considering now,
as / did in the campaign, the inter-
ests of the hundred millions.
In a general way, know that Mr..
Roosevelt has taken very firm
stand against the Progressives en-
tering into any fusion with the Re-
publicans. His stand in this respect
has not been more pronounced or
positive than my own, both as an in
dividual and through my publications.
Direct amalgamation with the Re-
publicans would be practical elimina-
ton. The Progressive party, with
its wonderful start, it's high purposes,
and it's splendid ideals, has far too
important work TO do, as an In
dependent party or In combination
with men of Its own kind now elisted
under different banners, to consider
any step that might result in self.
effacement, except upon some such
plan as | have herein suggested.
! With unyielding opposition to d.
rect amalgamation with the Republi'
cans, l would, however, both urge
and indorse move that would bring
the two parties. together on neu
trail ground, bring them together with
dignity and mutual good feeling, TAX
!. ing over and welding into single
instrument the best policies and pur
poses of the two organizations. II
would be a common sense, business
like, twoland -two-make-fo scheme O
meeting the situation.
One word more. This suggestion
for bringing the two parties together
does not mean and must not bt
!, twisted to mean, that my relations
to or interest In the Progressive
!. party are changed any. Emphat
ically they are not. But clearly thu
:. same methods should prevail with re
. gard to politics that prevail in th'
wisest and most intelligent realms o
a | business.