Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-06-04
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS.
Contributed.
FUSION MOVEMENT PROPOSED.

The Republicans and Progressives
of the State have started a movement
with the view to getting together
Messrs. John Motley Morehead and E
Carl Duncan are the mediators. These
gentlemen are to formulate plans and
SAINT them to future meeting of the
faithful" Even Tom Settle has con
scented to cooperate with the BLIND
followers of Col. Roosevelt, and favors
reconciliation. A meeting of those il
terested was held in Greensboro on
Wednesday of last week and each par
ticipant expressed the wish that all
former Republicans might again unite
| under solid front against the wick
ed Democrats. 1t is said that not
the slightest upleasantness, or dis
ruptive signs appeared during the con-
ference, the only idea being to get
the old party men back in the harness
together like they were when J. ELL
wood Cox ran for Governor and Will
liam Howard Taft for President in
1908. Mr.. Duncan generously offered
to surrender his position as National
COMMITTEES, of the Republican party,
II Progressive Committeeman Will
hanson would do likewise, and drop
former differences entirely. Evident
ly Mr.. Duncan is for peace at any
price now, but he sang quite a differ
emit tune in Chicago two years ago.
On the contrary, he sat there in the
Republican convention and saw the
very life ground out" of Col. Roose-
welt, without even uttering a word
of protest. And this is not all. He
bcasted about the action of that con-
vention, and the role he played in 1t,
for months afterwards. But, maybe,
the Progressives have forgotten about
it all by this time.
There is this about the proposition
of cooperation between the Republi.-
cans and Progressives: The suggestion
appears to have come from the form
err, as the Roosevelt enthusiasts do
not seem to be taking the idea seriou1
ly at all. The Colonel himself recent
ly held a number of political confer
ences in Washington and remarked
afterwards that mot single Republi-
con showed his head" He conferred
an length with the Progressives in
Congress, over the political situation,
and advised continued effort along
the lines outlined prior to his depar-
ture for South America last years
While he declared that politics was
not the object of his visit to Washing
| ton, he was noticeably careful to take
time TO ascertain, in so far as possible,
the sentiment with reference to the
policies of the Wilson administration.
| And singularly enough he did not seek
information from any Republican.
There are, we'll defined rumors to the
effect that Col Roosevelt and his lit
tie coterie of ProgressiVes in Con-
gress agreed upon plans of attack upon
the administration during his visit to
the capital, but not single Republi
can was taken into their confidence.
If the attitude of Col. Roosevelt,
who is the daddy of the Progressive
movement, shall be judged by his
movements in Washington last week,
the efforts of Messrs. Morehead, Dun
can, Settle and other Tar Heel Repub-
licans, to bring about union of
forces, will be wasted on the desert
air." Republicans had no part in the
| days program and the Colonel saw
none of them, although "it was learn
ed" that before he left Oyster Bay
Republican member of Congress tele-
/ graphed to him, asking for an ap-
| pointment. He declined to discuss the
suggestion, but purposely remarked
that there were no Republicans IN
| sight during the day. In view of the
| days events in Washington, it might
be the part of wisdom for our North
| Carolina brand of stand-patters to get
| the ear of the Chief Moose before go
| ing too far with their reorganization
program Colonel Roosevelt is still
the chief guy in the ranks of the Pros
gressiyes and appears not to have
surrendered any of his independent
Tendencies. He may be counted upon,