The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-06-09
PRoGREssIvEs GATHER IN CHI
cAGo-AUTHORIZE NUMBER
OF DELEGATES EXCEED
ED BY HUNDREDS.
GAY SCENE IN THEATER;
ROBINS MADE CHAIRMAN
Victor Murdoch Calls Convention to
Order at Noon-Raymond Robins
Lauds Roosevelt and Warns
G. o. p. Progressives Will
Not Surrender Principle.

Chicago, June with seeming
determination to stand fast by the
principles they enunciated in 1912, the
Progressives today opened their ma.
tional convention in the Auditorium.
The big theater was beautifully deco
rated and the presence of many hand
somely CARRIED women in the galleries.
and even among the delegates, made
the scene especially gay.
Increase Representation.
Though the authorized number OF
delegates was 628, so many states OBJ
tanned permission to increase their
representation that the delegate body
consisted of LOIS men and women,
and the alternates numbered 776.
Ohio, Michigan and New York sent
the largest delegations, with Illinois
next Pennsylvania was fifth with As.
While the Auditorium was filling up
with delegates and spectators, there
was patriotic music by band and the
great pipe organ.
Calls Convention to Order.
Promptly at twelve o'clock Victor
Murdoch, chairman of the Progressive
national committee, called the conven-
ton to order and Bishop William F.
Mcdowell of Chicago invoked the di-
vine blessing on its deliberations. The
reading of the call followed, and Ray
mond Robins was then elected tenn
porary chairman and introduced by
Mr.. Murdoch.
Chairman Robins Address.
Mr. Robins reviewed first the origin
and progress of the Progressive move
ment and declared the need of pro-
gressive thought and leadership and
courage is even greater in America to-
day than it was in 1912. The domi-
nant problem today, he asserted, is to
protect and preserve our government
'In this critical hour of our history"
continued the speaker, "only men who
have the vision of nation that shall
be truly great as well as powerful and
| wealthy, can speak for all the people.
Sees Menace to Nation.
We have listened for weary months
| to the wrangling voices of selfish mar
row groups, to spokesman of geo.
graphic divisions, social divisions,
race, nation color and creed divisions
Of people, who seemed to have for
gotten that they had common des-
tiny-that they must go up or down
together-that their first and neces-
sary allegiance was to the common
welfare of single citizenship pro-
tecting and protected under one flag.
So raucous and insistent have these
voices been that for time it seemed
that half breed Americanism would
rule a discordant, disunited people to
| the ruin of a nation.
Warns "oId Guard"
He spoke with sympathy of the eff
forts to reunite the Republican party.
but issued this warning to the lead
ers of the "old guard"
1--WE would solemnly warn all those
of an easy and accommodating poll
tical virtue that we will not surrender
principle nor make unworthy compro-
mise to gain meaningless and selfish
political victory. We would rather
face possible defeat fighting for our
cause than to seek assured victory
through moral treason to those high
| principles and heroic souls that COM
bined to make us the second party Of
this nation in 1912. The 100000
voters who followed our leader and
espoused our cause can be augmented
to a majority perhaps more easily I'M
der united banners, but If need be the,
Progressive standard will go forward
alone.
| G. o. p. Must Make Choice.
eve cannot believe that a rule or
ruin faction will dominate the politi-
cal machinery of the historic party of
Lincoln, and that they will prefer per-
sonal defeat and national degradation
to acceptance of the foremost leader
ship in the nation. But in this day
and hour it should be made plain that
the choice is in their hands and that
the judgment of the people will be.
upon their heads"
| When Chairman Robins concluded
his address, to the enthusiastic ap-
plause of the convention, the delegates
proceeded to the selection of commit
tees and the transaction of other rou-
tine business.