East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-16
BY THE SCISSORS
AT THE OLD STAND.
New York WorldN

(New York WORLDLY
In 1912 more than half OF the re-
publican party. seeding from the
regular organization. was singing
Onward. Christian Soldiersl" and
battling for the Lord at Armageddon.
This year three quarters Of the pro-
gressive republicans who followed
Mr. Roosevelt in 1912 have returned
TO the republican ranks
The republican party to which they
have returned Is not regenerated re-
publican party which they repudiated
two years ago. It is the republican
party of Penrose and Cannon and
| Gallinger and Brandegee and Ebenez-
er J. Hill whose leadership IN 1912
was the justification OF the progress
sive secession. Even in Pennsylvania
which Mr.. Roosevelt carried in 1912
and in which he made his most en-
ergetic campaign against republican
corruption in 1914. Penrose is re-
elected to the senate by a plurality Of
staggering proportions. and Penrose
owes this victory to voters who were
frenzied and fanatical in their support
OF Mr.. Roosevelt two years ago.
The significant thing OF this cleo
tion is not that the progressives have
returned to the republican party, but
that they have returned TO the same
kind of republican party that they
left in 1912. There is not a drop OF
progressive blood in its veins. All
its triumphs in Tuesdays elections |
were triumphs OF political reaction. 1t /
stands today for everything It stood ,
for in 1912. when the progressives re-
pudiated It as the sum total of in
EQUITY; yet its gains in this election
are all due to the return OF the pro-
gressive voters to It's ranks and every
progressive who voted the repubH-
can ticket Tuesday voted squarely for
the things against which he revolted
in 1919. L
Was the progressive party ever
really serious? or was 1t merely
political joy-ride which several mill
lion voters took for change OF air?
Certainly there was nothing in
tuesdays election to indicate that the
principles and spirit Of the progress
sive platform had ever taken posses
sion of the minds and souls OF the
rank and file. II progressive prin- :
ciples were sound in 1912, they were
sound in 1914; yet most Of the pro-
sressive voters have retraced their
steps to. reactionary republicanism,
and. abandoning Mr.. Roosevelt, have :
found congenial leadership again in :
Boise Penrose and Uncle Joe Cannon.
Except in isolated cases. we find
no evidence of 81; Jump in the demo-
cratic vote Tuesday. The same men :
who supported woodrow Wilson and
democratic policies in 1919 support :
ed the president and his administra- :
ton in 1914. Where the democrats
have lost ground is in the reunion OF :
and progressves under :
the old flag Of political and business :
piracy. 1t is plain now that large :
element of the progressives who fol-
lowed Mr.. Roosevelt in 1912 were :
actuated by no considerations of prin- :
,iple. The moral aspects Of his cru .
sade made no inward appeal TO them.
They followed him because they fan :
cied he had found a better way OF
immying a party into power than that
employed by the cash register crowd
of the republican old guard. When
the found that Rooseveltism was rich
in exhortation but poor in spoils, they
deserted Mr.. Roosevelt as lightly as
they deserted Mr. Taft in 1912. :
The progressive party is dead past
hope of a resurrection. The only real =
progressive party in the country Is
he democratic party under the lead
srship Of Woodrow Wilson. If the
country wants progressive government )
hat Is the only instrument Of progress .
live government. II the country
wants to return to the days OF Priv
lege and Plutocracy, a reunited re- /,
publican party is again doing busi-
hess at the old stand.