The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-20
No Compromise


No Compromise
In a remarkable interview given while at
tending the Progressive Convention at Indiana
polls, Charles Sumner Bird, twice gubernator-
ial candidate in Massachusetts, uttered the fol-
lowing significant words:
What do you mean by to win? To attain
ofice-that is one idea, the idea of the Repub-
hcan and Democratic party officers. They have
no other means of existence. The Progressive
party was not founded on this brand of success
Victory is possible without winning Offices Per-
sonally don't care if never put Progressive
in office, as long have Progressive princ-
pies embodied in actual government. That is
my idea of victory, and as long force
our principles into Observation-Disclosures by
Democrats, Republicans Progresives-it is
victory. We are not fighting for personal
agrandizement; we are fighting for better gov
ernment''
This will sound to an old machine politician
like the veriest bunk farago of impossible ideal
isms. That is because an old machine politician
is himself an impractical visionary still hugging
the delusion that a crowd of politicians can by
balloting and wire pulling, determine the bus
mess policies of the nation.
The bushes policies Of the nation are deter
mined by business interests. Business cannot
be made to fit political theories: political theo-
ries must fit the needs of business.
That is why Charles Sumner Bird can be so
sure of the ultimate success of the Progressive
DOCTRINES They are the demands, not of dreams,
but of business men, and business men know
their interests can never be conserved until those
doctrines enforced.
1t is in the interest of business big and little,
and of all the men depending upon it, that work
ingmen have living wages and healthy working
conditions, that child labor be abolished that
woman labor be stringently regulated, that un-
Just mOnopolies be destroyed, that unemploy-
ment problems be solved that the tariff be reg
ulated by commission instead of by politics,
and that the federal government be made effc-
lent enough to deal with the problems with
which the individual states can not COPE
1t doesn't mater what the politicians want or
what the various political parties may demand
Business rules the nation and politics will be
cOntOrmed to its interests. The policies that
keep it strong and healthy are going to win, it
matters not what party hangs it's banner over
them.
Standing this conviction, the Progress
i've. true to his colors will not tolerate the en-
Elements to amalgamation. "Amalgamation
means compromise, nothing more" said Mr. Bird
The Progressves must not become entangled in
Iany alliance, for this means disintegration They
must keep fighting, not much for office as
for good government, and they attain enough
compensation when they force the adoption of
things they are fighting for
SO long as the leaders of the party strike this
note, it has nothing to fear.
1t Happens Often.-"IIow you expect me to put
money into this business? don't know anything about it
well, that of the why expected YOU
to put money into t'-Chicago Record-Ierald
Enough, Anyway.-Mary-"The doctor says this ill
ness of mine is caused by germ
Agnes-"What did he call it,"
Mary--"I don't remember. l caught the disease but
no name.'-Judge
Shy-"Ddnt you contemplate matrmony?"
YES my boy owned the old bachelor, but always
from safe distance Life.
Jerry-"So?"
Tom-"Yes, used to be a cgar-maker. "-Californa
Pelican