South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-12
HEDR|CK INSISTS
BULL MOOSE HAVE
PREVENTED PANIC
Declares at Progressive Ban
quet That Big Business is
Backing Republicans at Hard
Times Game.

for delivery if the strength Of the
progressive party could be brought 10
cooperate. thus ito teach the voting
public a vital lesson on the so-called
evils of democratic tariffs" was fatty
asserted by William d. Hedrick of In
dlanapolis addressing the progressive
party banquet at the Boys Y. NJ. G.
A. Monday night
Come back they (the republi-
cans) said, and we will teach the pub
lie a lesson that will bury the demo-
cratic party so deep that it will never
again see the light of day." Hedrick
declared. "but we told them no, true
American patriotism is ABOVE such
sorry business-the progressive party
stands for the public welfare regard
less of the source. and not for fiat
panics from any source and then he
added speaking for himself:
81 personally,-and 1 believe the
majority Of the progressives feel the
same. that under the policy of Pres
ident Wilson. though we cannot agree
with him always would rather see
him in the presidents chair for 20
wears. than 10 see any republican
leader that 1 know of, there for a sim
gle day"
Dinner a Decided Success.
The banquet was a decided success
from every standpoint. save that a
clap Of thunder between the two prin-
cipal speeches caused about one
third of $50 in attendance to leave
early for their homes.
The main dining room was packed
to capacity, and one table was filled in
side room, this despite republican
efforts 10 keep down the crowd by
buying up all the tickets possible, &C
cOrding TO report, and then throwing
them away.
A reporter for the local republican
organ wandered aimlessly about the
Y NJ. c. A. lobby previous to the din
ner, enquiring for and counting re-
publican noses, hoping to be able TO
report the actual progressives present
at a minimum, but such noses were
scarce.
A few democrats were present, but
they were virtually all from the In
dependent Voters league, reputed on
the verge of joining the progressive
ranks.
The dinner was served by the ladies
Of Grace NJ +. church, and was Of a
wholesome 50-cent variety.
County Chairman Adam HunSberger
called the meeting to order Rev. A.
G. Decker of the First Baptist churcn'
invoked the divine blessing. Dist. Chair
man +. +. Lambert was POSTMASTER,
and the speakers were State Chairman
Fdw. G.. Toner Of Anderson, DR.. Clar-
ence 3. Strouse of Virginia and Mr..
Hedrick, before mentioned, these in
the order named.
state Chairman Toner spoke large
ly of the necessity of the county and
precinct organization, and of county
and township tickets, to accentuate
the party fighting strength. He de-
clared that the condition of the party
is good throughout the state, and that
this republican talk about progress
sives coming back"-is all bunk.
Pleads Cause of South.
DR.. StrOuse was perhaps the star
speaker of the evening, polished south
erner that he is, and as he tells it, in
the north with a message. His plea
was largely for the south. He told his
listeners to remember that One-third
Cf the 1000, 600 progressive votes cast
two years ago were former democrat
iC votes. and that when the repubh-
cans talk about progressive coming
back" they are talking about up
wards of a million men, who should
the party disband, would have to go
the other way-and would take lot
of others with them.
1--WE can never go back to the re-
publican party" he said, because we
have never been there
The big point in Strause's address
was his claim that the success of the
progressive party is necessary to the
complete reunion of the country.
The south can never become re-
publican" he declared, land il is not
in harmony with the northern democ-
Tacy."
He pointed to the progressive par
tvs proposed tariff commission. 10 be
placed in the hands of scientific men,
future tariffs TO be framed not on par
tisan but on scientific lines, as a means
cf avoiding the future making and un-
making OF presidents out of the tar
if boOg-a-bOo'-as he called it.
Incidentally, the Nirginian took
little rap at sO-called independent
movements in politics. such as was the
citizens movement in South Bend,
but with special reference TO the Prof.
Merriam movement in Chicago. which
ne denounced as responsible for the
slump in the progressive vote in that
city regarding which the republican
press is doing so much Dragging and
bunkOing.
Steals Democratic Thunder.
Then came Hedrick who dealt with
the Indiana situation more particu-
larry. and of national conditions in
general He sought 10 give his party
credit for all the progressive legisla-
I ton that has taken place. but in the
state and in the nation, during the
past two years. presuming that il has
feen the progressive party close on
the heels of democracy that has
driven that party into everything it
has done.
We are doing our work as if by
proxy" Hedrick persisted. and since
il is the principle that we are fighting
for. and the success OF the principle
that we want it is II UP to US to
worry about the offFes so much, as
what the offices pr<uce.
The republican etate platform. on
which the republicans are asking pro-
sreSSives 10 return. was roundly de-
nounced by Hedrick as not containing
a single principle for which the pro-
gressive party stands. and a rank hy
pOcracy. because OF its side-stepping
language.
\ letter from W. A. PiersOn OF New
Albany. progressive candidate for sec
rotary of state was read and loudly
applauded. Frequent applause pune
tuated all the speakers and espec-
tally when the Indianapolis man de-
nOunced whatever of hard times that
exist as fiat born Of big business and
the republican game" the response