Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-13

Fourth District
lief stations. Failures are more than
they have been for twenty years and
over twelve million industrial workers
are facing unemployment and social
disaster
The Republican leaders blame the
Democratic administration, while the
Democrats insist that business Is
good and that labor is well employ
ed, and that the statements to the
contrary are framed for the purpose
of casting discredit upon the Demo-
cratic administration. 1t is, however,
idle to deny that the industrial sit
uation is alarming and has caused
sorrow and misery to millions Of fam
lilies in every section of the country.
Who is responsible? The bosses Of
the Republican party who control the
organization of that party as COM
pletely today, as they have for more
than generation. If these bosses
had not broken their prediction
pledges; if they had not passed the
Payne Aldrich tariff BILL if they had
not taken the tariff completely out of
politics by the establishment of a non
if they had recognized the crying
need for social welfare legislation; if
they had not stolen the nominatio
al Chicago in 1872 a Democratic Pres
ident and Congress would not have
been elected and the present prevail
ing unrest, business decentralization
and our humiiiating international COM
pGcations would have been averted.
What do the Republican bosses pro-
pose to do about it, They look for
Republican success, not by eliminating
the forces which have wrecked the
Republican partyaenet by building a
liberal platform to meet the social. in
dustrial and economic needs of a pro-
gressive people, butt by standing pat
and relying upon Democratic stupid
1ty and incapacity, which they hope
and believe will insure business de-
preston and bring about reaction in
favor of that gind of Republicanism
which existed in the boss rule days of
President Taft
The people, however, will not be
fooled by that kind of talk. They
will not turn back to the men who
wrecked the Republican party and
made Democratic success possible. The
Republican party cannot be reformed;
1t cannot be rejuyenated. Four and
one-half million voters left in 1912 and
more will follow in 1916. The pro-
gressive men and women of the Re-
publican. party win refuse to follow
the leadership of men who are in poll
tics for personal profit and are sac
rificing the honor and glory of the
party name in order to win the spoiIs
of office.
The Democratic party, too, cannot
escape responsibility for this desperate
business condition which pervades the
entire community. Their cease1ess at
tack upon business; their failure to
appoint tariff commission to remove
the tariff beyond the reach of sekish
business interests; their drifting, tim
id, humiliating. unAmerican Mexican
policy which has surely degraded us in
the eyes of the civilized world; their
footing of the diplomatic service
whereby political creditors have sue
ceeded trained and faithful public SER
vants-all these have caused among
thinking men, big and little, distrust,
suspicion and uncertainty. business
hesitates and halts and is apprehen-
sive as to what may next be done
The Progressive party in its plat
form, and through its leaders, stands
for business regulation. rather than
business strangulation. We believe
that all business, whether large or
small. should be encouraged and as
sisted by our government as the Ger
man empire assists and encourages
the business of lis people. We lepudi-
ate the Democratic policy of smashing
big business units into small units,
which is as disastrous to the wage
Garner as to the employer.
Amalgamation with the Republican
party? Is it conceivable? Would it
be honorable? Who would be willing
to be a compromise candidate stand
ing on a platform written by political
bosses, who are willing to buy Office
at the expense of political integrity
Do the bosses of the Republican party
believe in the principles of our plat
form? Do we believe as they do?
VIII you Progressives of Maine unite
with the Hale Burleigh machine which
absolutely controls the Republican
party in your State? Would the Pro-
gressives of Massachusetts unite with
the Crane Weeks reactionary machine
which has the Republican party of
Massachusetts, in the hollow of its
hand? Does any intelligent, well-in-
formed political observer question who
the actual leaders of the Republican
party are? Mr.. Prendergast in New
York. and some stand-pat Republican
papers, criticized my statement made
in Indianapolis that Barnes, Penrose,
Smoot and men of their type" are the
acknowledged and undisputed leaders
of the Republican party today as they
have been for many years past Have
Mr. Prendergast and other Republican
leaders repudiated the Barnes Penrose
machine? Have the stand-pat Repub-
lican newspapers revolted? They must
know that some so-called Progressive
Republicans have been, trying to get
rid of the old Barnes machine and
have been utterly routed.
If any Progressive wishes to return
to the Progressive party let him fully