The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-22

If the signs on the political horizon have an,
meaning there is soon to be showing of hands
between the Republican party and the leaders o.
the remaining fragment of the Progressive organi
zation. There has been much talk OF a reunion o.
! G. o. P. and Bull Moose, but while the msjorit,
of the Progressives have andoubtedly returned te
the Republican ranks few men, including George
w. Perkins and Victor Mufdock are sticking tic
the burning deck and exhorting others to remain
with them and strive to, extend the conflagratior
to the craft of the c. o. p Meanwhile there is
silence in Oyster Bay, suggesting that the Chic
Moose may be awaiting possible concessions from
the regulars as result of the hostile demonstra-
tons of Messrs. Perkins and Murdoch. =
The news comes from Kansas City that a Pro-
gressive conference there adopted resolution in
favor of entering the campaign of 1916 with COM
plete national and State tickets, headed by Theo-
dore Roosevelt and Hiram W. Johnson. George
w Perkins, chairman of the national executive
committee of the Progressive party, announced to
the conference that he had called a meeting of
the committee to be held in New York, Novem-
Der 20 to arrange for meeting of the national
committee. at which date and place for ma
tional convention will be fixed Mr.. Perkins and
his followers. realizing they must the wane of
the Progressive sentiment and the trend back to
the old Republican principles, evidenced by the
wholesale assertions from the Moose ranks, of
course have not the slightest expectation of elect
ing Progressive national ticket under any cir
cumstances. They are not in the least likely to
carry single State with any candidate other than
Roosevelt; and even if the Colonel is induced to
make the attempt again he would probably COM
nand but slender number of electoral votes The
Colonel knows this, Mr.. Perkins knows it and
Mr.. Murdoch knows it. Medill Mccormick knows
il, the difference in his being that he admits
it. With Roosevelt at the head of third ticket
however, it is well within the bounds of possibility
that he might be the means of continuing the
Democrats in power, and it is uncomfortable that
either Col Roosevelt or Mr.. Perkins, in view of
their vehement denunciaton of the adminstra-
tons mistakes and failures, seriously intend to
make themselves responsible to the country
second time for Democratic government. The
one justihabe conclusion is that Perkins and Muir
dock, with or without the connivance of Col.
Roosevelt, are engaged in campaign of frightful-
ness in the hope of compelling recognition and
from the G. o. P. vt would appear
that they are seeking definite assurances of what
the program of the national convention next year
will be. And the attitude of the regular Republi-
leaders indicates that they do not believe that
Roosevelt and Perkins will again prefer Demo-
cratic victory to a. Republican triumph in which
they not the heroes; that they recognize the
bluff and will undertake to call it at the proper
lime. The G. o. P. chieftains cannot be without a
haunting fear, however, that policy of stern
,loofness may goad the Progressive leaders to a
course of rule ruin second time, so that the
nutineers are not without hope of being able to
secure some sort of terms. The situation looks
ike contest of nerve, with just chance that the
our-flushers will rake in the pot
But the time for the showdown is surely ap-
In eight months the campaign will be
m and the present time is none too early for the
Republicans to know whom they must fight, in or
Ter to lay their plans of battle. A Progressive |
icket without Roosevelt would not prove formi- |
able Democratic ally, but with the Colonel as its
eader the chances of G. o. P. victory would be |
eriously impaired.
If Col. Roosevelt is sincere in his declarations |
hat Democratic rule is proving disastrous to the
ountry, if he does not believe that government |
" the party which he once represented in the |
nent he has unsparingly denounced then he /
annot be in sympathy with the political methods |
f Messrs. Perkins and Murdoch, and he will be |
Wiling to take his chances in the national con-
ention In other words, if Col. Roosevelt is not
merely engaged in unworthy scheming to secure
he nomination for himself by devious methods i
republicans have a right to expect that he will /
Don speak out and let the loyal members of the
My organization that can possibly oyerturn the
overnment which he processes to detest and abhor
now on which side he will fight next year.