South Bend news-times., 1914-01-31
Qualities Story That Progress
SiveS Are Dead There-PIan
Meetings But Life Depends
Upon Survival Elsewhere.
THREE OFFICIALS HERE
TO LOOK AROUND LITTLE
Talk About Canals and Politics
But Carefully Conceal Object
of ViSit-DemoCratS Gain
Ground.

Mayor Keller and Supt. TOyne OF the
waterwOrks department were hosts
Saturday TO City Atty. II. l.. Crum-
packer, Supt. A. W. Frehse, superin-
tendent city waterworks. and Judson
Alexander, member of board Of public
works, all OF Michigan City here on
some apparent tour of inspection
All were glum as TO the particular
purpose Of the visit except that they
were here looking around a little. A.
IT. Rice OF the local board of works
also had the visitors in tow for a
time.
City Atty. Crumpacker was over
heard To remark to Mayor Keller that
the two cities ought to be able 20 CO.
operate with regard 10 the BUILDING of
the big Lake Michigan TO Lake Erie
canal which might be taken 10 mean
that If the two lakes are unable to
furnish the water for the big ditch,
the cities should help out with their
water piants-though. of course. it
might also have meant something else.
From this the conversation dTifted
TO politics, as matters stand IN Michi-
gan City. and evidently there is a di-
vision Of opinion, it appearing from
city Atty. Crumpacker (rep.) that the
progressive party over there is dead
while Mr.. Alexander contends that il
is soon to develop into very lively
corpse.
Explains What He Means.
"I want TO qualify your morning
story in the News-Times from Michi-
gan City" said Mr.. Alexander in the
course Of the interview.
The progressive party is not dead
over there, and very FAR from it. We
nave a progressive club of which / am
chairman. We hope TO keep the spirit
alive, but 10 must depend To an extent
upon what becomes of the party else
where. If the party lives it viii live
In II does there
is no republican party to go back to;
at least nothing progressive. There
Will be meeting OF prOgreSSlVeS next
1fridcy night, and another big meet
ing a week from Tuesday night. After
that We may be able 10 show you
whether or not Michigan City progress
siveism is dead.
There are some progressives who
are willing 10 stand for the principle
and go down with il even if they never
Eet anything" Alexander went on. "I
am not that way. L want the prin-
ciple 90 win and am for a party that
can put IL over. L am certain that the
republican party can never be de-
pended upon for that purpose"
story From Michigan City.
The story from Michigan City TO
which Alexander referred. is 20 the
effect that gravitation of the progress
Sives toward democracy Is perhaps no
where more marked i'm the 18th dis
triCt than i'm that place. but
not without evidence OF a partial re-
turn 20 the republicans. In fact. un-
less the progressiVcs OF LapOrte. COun-
ty seat OF Laporte county. wake up
and prove strong enough 10 offer un-
expected assurance there, tt looks as
though the prOgreSsives of Michigan
city would split. the followers of
Leader" a. :. Nichols going back TO
the eN-g O.. D.. and the followers of
Judson Alexander, casting their lots
with the democrats.
This extinction of the bull moose is
credited there To the recent citizens
movement by which Martin Kreuger
was placed I'm the mayors chair aEain,
after some eight years retire ment.
KTeuger. q democrat I'm state and ma
tional politics is still democrat
krCuCcr Is said 20 be doing better
than his campaign promises on one
subject. at least. Ele Is putting the
lid ON saloon law violations and
commercial gambling. this without
having promised IT,
Was Onhy Mad at Taft.
Nichols hull moose leader of the
alleged back go the =. %. p is
quoted as saying that ne was never
more than mad at Taft anyway. and
that with "a reasonable reorganization
of the republicans along progressive
lines ne is ready 20 return.
The disposition Of Alexander. how
over. seems to be that If the progres-
sive party gives mp the ghost. there is
nothing left for him and mis- followers
10 10 but 10 enlist under the banner
of Woodrow Wilson and William Jen-
nings Bryan.
All faith i'm the republican party
ever becoming progressive seems to
nave left Alexander forever. and he
IS the man who gave the progressive
party it's real life in Michigan City
two years ago. He is highly gratified
with the way the democratic party Is
doing things i'm the nation, and looks
upon Woodrow Wilson as an up-to-
date progressive leader regardless OF
party.
Democrats Are Reunited.
Although there was a slight dis
affection in the ranks OF democracy
locally. incident 20 the citizens move
ment it appears 90 have been we'll
limited 20 municipal issues. and 20
have disappeared promptly, SO far as
state and national issues go, as soon
as the November votes were counted.
Mayor kreuger declares that he ls
as much a democrat as ever and there
are even those who insist that had
Thomas TagEart remained In the race
Tor United States senator, he would
he a Taggart man In that as IN state
and national matters.
With TagEurt eliminated there is
no question about sOid Michigan
city delegation for Sen. Benjamin F.
Shlvely. Michigan City is especially
friendly To- Congt tNssman Henry A
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