Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-16
RAYMOND ROBINS STATEMENT
TO THE PROCRESS|VES
Chairman of National Convention Gives Reasons
for Supporting Hughes In the
Present Campaign

RAYMOND Robins is a Progressive of
Progressives. For many years he has
been an efficient laborer In the field
of social service. He has the conf
dence and esteem of all people whose
special or even incidental interest is in
the movement for the betterment of
world conditions. Mr. Robins was the
chairman of the Progressive national
convention of 1916 When Theodore
Roosevelt declined the Progressive nom
ination for president and made his
declaration for Hughes, Raymond Rob-
ms was not ready to commit himself
on the instant to like course. He
studied the problems that confronted
the country. He read and pondered
the records of Charles f. Hughes and
Woodrow Wilson. and then he made his
decision between the candidates. His
declaration was waited with a strong
and general interest. Mr. Robins is
for Hughes and Fairbanks To his
fellow Progressives he gives his rea-
sons in the following statement:
To NY Fellow Pfogressives:
For some years prior to 1912 in COM
mon with other progressive citizens,
had hoped for new cleavage in
American political life-a cleavage
that would bury the dead issues of 1860,
wipe out sectional lines and prejudices
and comprehending the vital social
and economic issues of the twentieth
century, would divide American polit-
ical parties along true lines of honest
progressive and honest conservative
sentiment. When Colonel Roosevelt
voiced this need and desire and de-
clared himself as willing to serve in
realizing a genuine progressive and
liberal party, | in common with over
four million voters responded to his
call.
In our first campaign while the ac-
tual vote was an extraordinary testi
mony to Colonel Roosevelt's personal
popularity. we elected no single Pro-
gressive governor, nor Legislature, nor
sufficient members to be even a bal
ance of power in congress. This, how
ever. was no discoura cement to those
Progressives who did not seek office
and we're ready to fight on through any
number of defeats to gain a genuine
victory. In 1914 we had a real test of
Progressive voters of 1912 and the Will
ngness of the American people to use
new party in the practical solution of
The problems of our political life. Cen
erallv throughout the nation the Pro-
gressive candidates. its
most gifted leaders and all generously
supported by Colonel Roosevelt and as
rule fairly treated by the daily press
ran bad third. Nearly three
fourths of the Progressive voters of
1912 refused to support the Progress
sive candidates in 1914. Moreover the
acid test of the party loyalty OF the
voter is not found in his support Of
party candidates in general election,
out in his willingness to enroll or reg
lister in the primaries of his party. BY
this test throughout the union the Pro-
gressive voters of 1912 declared in
overwhelming majority that they re-
garded the Progressive candidates as
the representatives. Of a protest and
not a party-of mere revolt rather
han a permanent political cleavage.
ABANDONED THE PARTY.
Under our system OF government the
voters are at last supreme. No gifts Of
leadership nor merit of program can
finally drive the American people into
n party against their will In the 1914
and 1916 primaries the Progressive Vot-
ers of 1872 deliberately and in over
whelming numbers abandoned the Pro-
gressive party.
The efforts of Colonel Roosevelt's
friends to secure his nomination by
both the Republican and Progressive
conventions were a mere recognition
of this fact. Colonel Roosevelt's dec