Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-26
BORAH TALKS IN
FAVOR OF MERGE
Senator Predicts Republicans
Will Eventually Come Over
Into Moose Camp.

4
Detroit, Mich, May ga glowing
picture of the future of the republican
party reunited with the progressive
element which left it in 1912 was
painted here today by Senator William
E. Borah of Idaho. speaking at a state
wide conference" of republicans.
| "The republican party" said the
senator sis coming back into power.
The proof of it is on every hand. The
trend is unmistakable. / said a year
ago that the amalgamation which
would take place would be an amalga-
nation of the voters, not the assumed
leaders. l said furthermore that that
! was the only amalgamation that was
worth while. The men who voted the
third party ticket to the number of
four million for reasons entirely sat
isfactory to them can neither be ques-
toned as to their integrity of purpose
or their patriotism. But that it was
protest and not a manifestation of pur-
pose to permanently leave the party
is now established by facts and fig
ures which cannot be doubted.
"Now in view of this pronounced
and unmistakable purpose of those
who voted the third party ticket to
ally themselves with the republican
party, in view of the determination to
support it's principles and its policies,
what is the task before us? 1t is un-
questionably to make our party equal
to the tremendous problems which
now concern US. 1t is to build up in
this country, out of the traditions, the
On l.s1 - 81,
the duties and obligations of the pres
ent, and the hopes and aspirations of
the future, an organization efficient,
militant and progressive = worthy of
its old days and equal to the obliga-
tions which now rest upon US. 1t is
our duty, in other words, in unmistak-
able terms to make it clear that the
republican party is to be as it was n
its best days, thoroughly progressive
party We ought not to assume for
moment or concede for a moment,
that because the party bids fair to go
back into power, there is going to be
any compromise with the forces which
brought it near its ruin. There is in
this country a powerful influence for
the bad in politics and it will take pos
session of any party in the world, if
1t can, which is enjoying power This
kind of an influence does not fight a
party in the open. 1t holds itself in
readiness to direct the course of any
party which happens to be. in power.
With such influences there can be no
compromise If we are to have a party
which is going to meet and solve the
great problems which new industrial
life and new social condition have
imposed upon us.
No man living in this splendid age,
amid these exhilirating environments.
can afford to permit the corroding
poison OF pessimism to enter his soul. |
But on the other hand, the course of
our age Is that cold. cruel, selfish con-
servatism. which. living in it's ease and |
enjoying wealth and all il
brings. refuses to see or sympathize |
with the conditions of those, who in |
The midst of world of plenty, are |
bordering on the line of hunger and !
misery; who refuse to see the new /
or the new problems which
must be met and dealt with in the |
same spirit and with the same courage |
md progressiveness that our fathers
net the problems of their age The
great and almost superhuman task. my |
riends, Is not the gathering OF wealth