Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-12-09
where WILL THE PROGRESS
SlVES GO?
Chicago Tribune

WHERE WILL THE PROGRESS
SlVES GO?
Chicago Tribune.)
Republican politicians Of all shades
are expressing the conviction that
1916 will see the Progressive voters
back in the fold.
The Wilson Democrats maintain
that President Wilson, as a near Pro
gressive, is the natural heir to the
Roosevelt following.
These leaders, as political leaders
generally do, are expressing hopes
rather than beliefs.
The only way Of prophesying how
the future may develop is by reason
able deduction from the past.
The Progressive movement can be
said to have started shortly after the
election Of President Mckinley in
1896. While the presidents mind dur
ing his first term was principally tax
en- up with the Spanish war and It's
aftermath, he was becoming aware OF
the growing inequalities of opportuni
ty and was starting a campaign Of re
form at the time Of bis assassination
| President Roosevelt, succeeding
him in office, devoted his energy tt
this movement with such success tina
he was overwhelmingly elected in
1904. He carried out the popular will
so satisfactorily during the years Of
| his elective term that at their close
he was able to name his successor
politicians and voters alike merely
accepting his recommendation.
| President Taft was no sooner elect
ed than he turned from the policies
he had professed before election ani
delivered himself and the power OF
his administration to those very ele'
ments President Roosevelt had SO
successfully overcome. So rapidly did
he work that the party which had
been overwhelming in it's march to-
ward progress was overwhelmed at
the congressional election two years
later.
Shortly after the Republicans be-
gan to gather into three camps. One
camp, representing reaction and con-
tanning federal office holders, was in
sistent for the denomination of the
president. Another camp, intent up
on his rejection from office at all
costs, rallied around Senator La Fol
lette. A third camp, believing strong
ly in the Republican party and be-
lieving it alone capable of sue.
cessfully conducting the gov
eminent, cast around for a
candidate who could be nominated in
the face of the federal machine and
Who could be elected at the polls.
This camp finally settled upon ex-
President Roosevelt as the only
available man to save the party.
There followed the primary cam
paign. The Roosevelt Republicans,
with recruits from both the Taft and
La Toilette followers, won the nomi-
nation at the popular primaries, on
ly to be cheated out of their victory
IN the national convention.
There followed the unexpected
nomination Of Woodrow Wilson at
the Democratic convention and the
organization of the Progressive par
ty.
In the campaign the Progressives
attacked Republicans and Democrats
Unfortunately The election showed
the normal Democratic vote for Will
son and the former Republican vote
divided between Roosevelt and Taft,
with he larger part for Roosevelt.
Elated by the Roos evelt showing,
the Progressive party leaders continu.
ed organizing and continued denounc-
ing the two old parties in equal meas
ure.
In the election just passed the
issue of the stolen convention did
not exist. The charges against the
Republican candidates were generally
gross exaggerations built on partisan
hostility
Republican voters returned to their
party to vote for qualified candidates.
In some instances they returned to
vote even for unqualified candidates.
The main issue in the campaign
was two years of Democratic rule in
Washington, and in certain instances
notably in Pennsylvania, the voters
went to great extremes to vote it
out.
There remains a considerable army
of voters who voted the Progressive
ticket last month. What will they
do?
The claim is made that they are
near to President Wilson and should
become Democrats, but, if so, are
they followers of COL Roosevelt and
10 they share his views of the Will
son administration?
1t is also suggested that they can
lot under any circumstances consort
With certain Republicans of influence. |
Does it follow then, for instance,
hat they are willing to tie them
elves up with William Jennings Bry-