Evening star., 1914-06-05


Wilson'S election in cooperation with
Roosevelt in dividing the opposition vote.
1t Is debatable question whether Hoose-
Welt. Taft or Bryan contributed most 70
Wilson'S election. Many will place Ta1t
ahead of Bryan, even though primacy in
this competition must, perhaps. be con-
ceded to Roosevelt.
In accordance with this same political
horoscope. Roosevelt and Bryan are to %
not Presidents. Abut President makers:
Warwicks, king makers. not kings.
Progressive-Republican Reunion.
Speculation about the policies and can
didates of a republcan-bull moose re-
union assumes that such a reunion In
possible. The progressives in the two
camps might naturally and without dim
Guilty come together, and seize and con-
troll the republican standard. II Roose-
Welt could be induced not to stand in the
way.
The .'progressives" broke from the
republican party on the ground that
they were in truth the majority OF that
party and controlled the Chicago conven-
ton and were cheated Of that control by
| the minority; that this swindle was made
possible by the excessive representation
in the convention of the south. a section
which controlled one-third of the conven-
ton vote. though it cast no republican
votes whatsoever in the electoral college.
IL is obvious that in the next republican
nominating convention the south will be
deprived OF this excess of representative
strength; that representation in the con
vention will be approNimated to the po-
tential republican vote in the respective
| states: and that the Judgment OF those
who represent the doubtful and contested
deciding which candidate is the best vote
getter in these disputed states. and on
that account entitled to nomination. II
| then the claim OF the progressives at the
faith: II they really believed that they
controlled the republican party In spite
of the inequitable southern representation
against them and were entitled to the
Chicago nomination. then they should in
consistency insist that they still consd-
| tute the majority of the real republican
party: and having by a successful bolt
| made good their protest against the Chi
cago convention, and revolutionized Its
basis of representation. they should with
out fail take possession of their own
again at the next republican nominating
convention.
! There is no doubt that the progressives
| were in the majority among the repub-
| licans in 1912, and were unable to make
that majority effective at the nominating
convention in Chicago partly on account
of the unfair representative basis on
which the convention was constitutes.
The progressives were. however. equally
| responsible with the conservatives Tor
this inequitable apportionment of dele
gates. The radical progressives made
their point against the representative
character of the Chicago convention.
They bolted and defeated the candidate
of that convention. II, then. the next re-
publican convention is formed on equit-
able lines. fairly representing potential
republican strength in the states before
the Chicago disruption. why should they
not resume the commanding position in
the organization to which their numbers
entitle them. IL they are not barred from
returning by those who have remained
technically regular? And the same con-
sideration which would bring them to the
republican camp should cause the pro-
gressve regulars to give them hearty
welcome.
The republican progressives now divided
between Taft and Roosevelt camps are
entitled in natural combination to pos
session and control of the republican
banner, and ought not to permit them
selves to be denied it by Roosevelt or
Taft or both men combined. As long az
the republican progressives are thus
divided into hostile camps, rejecting the
bitterness of the personal quarrel Of two
angry and obstinate men. they will re-
main impotent