The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-02-19

b the most serious thing that can
engage the public attention Of men.
It II IN the Last analysis the state.
the government, burdened and freight
ed with the concerns of an e0tare
people. The family. the home, the
social and physical well-beang Of the
citizen are, after al. anchored In
politics, and political parties are.
therefore, the only effective instru-
ments through and by means Of which
the people Of . representative dem
ocracy can effectuate their purposes
or realize - citizens their highest
aspirations. The fact that some men
prostitute these tnstrumentalitieg Of
government to selfish and ignOble
ends. the fact that political Phari-
sees and barren aesthetics draw back
from the stern conflicts where the
fundamental rights Of men are ham,
mered and fashioned into laws and
institutions does not in the least
change the proposition that through
and by means of politics and politi-
cal organizations do the people pre-
serve their rights and maintain theii
government. We can therefore az
ford to be patient so that when the
party records it's policies 1t will be
under such circumstances that though
all men may not accept them, no
one will doubt their genuineness. We
can afford to stay out Of power for
another season. but we cannot afford
as q party to face the tremendous
problems which are before US until
we face them right.
"The next republican national con-
venti0n viii be In the hands and
under the control of the voters Of the
party. Those who believe in the re-
publican party, who respect its ira
ditions and have helped to make Its
history, those who cannot but feel
. Quickened pulse and q Mvelier
sense Of civic pride at the mention
Of the names of the great leaders of
the party, and, above all, those who,
looking to the future, hope to take
up again the great problems of hui
mainly and the tasks of government,
may now direct it's course and meas
ure its destiny. II, as believe. the
vast majority Of the voters of the
party are fully alive to the demands
and needs Of our present citizenship;
II. ~ ! believe. they are In sympathy
with the reforms which conform to
the best interests Of our common
country, then nothing can prevent
the party platform and the candidates
from becoming the embodiment and
the representative of those princi-
pies and policies. This Is the con-
test to which look forward with
hope, yes, with an abiding convic-
ton that when the great body of
voters have spoken and had their
views recorded, we will have an un-
trammeled and unfettered party,
alert to the duties and capable of
meeting the responsibilities which
are now before us and upon us. l
speak plainly, but speak just as l
feel. am not one of those who be-
believe that the republican party has
made no mistakes, but l am one of
those who have no doubt that under
q full and free expression of the vot-
ers 1t will again become a powerful
instrument for good
LET us, therefore, have no plat
form of compromise, and no har-
mony that Is not based upon COM
mon conviction. We want a plat
form made at the immediate time,
q platform which speaks, of battle
and conflict and which will record
In the harsh language of truth the
actual convictions Of the majority of
the republican voters. II the repub-
lican voters are not progressive in
the true, sound sense of the term.
then the way for some of US Is clear.
II, on the other hand. they are, then
SO far as / am concerned, no mere
question Of organization shall be per-
mitted to stand In the way or to
drive me out OF the party. There
can be no compromise which will
prevent us doing less than our full
duty toward the problems which are
before us and toward the millions Of
our countrymen whose intel ests
should be our constant concern.
"Mr. President. when we plead for
progressive republican party. we
do not plead for fancies, for abstrac-
tons. but for nothing more and moth
ing less than the sincere and cour-
ageous adjustment and application
Of sound principles of government to
the Industrial and economic condi-
tons Of today, to the end that this
may not become a government of the