The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-09
Nothing To Be Gained by join
ing With Republicans.
COLONEL'S BIG OPPORTUNITY
He Should Go to Chicago to
Preserve PrOgressiyism.
Coalition With Old Guard
Means Destruction.
QBY VIM. RANDOLPH HEARsT.)

| Progressive party, or, rather, to alb
| sorb the Progressive party into the
Republican party.
Certain Progressive leaders who are
perhaps more leaders than they are
progressive. are hating and hamper
| ing the natural and spontaneous ac-
ton of the Progressive party, in the
hope of accomplishing this unavailing
union.
The old guard of the Republican
party displays a sufficient Willingness
to accept the surrender of the Pro-
gressive party provided that surren-
der shall be unconditional.
What a sad and singular thing it is
that such a union should be contem-
plated by the Progressive party either
from the viewpoint of principle or
policy!
What POLICY is there in such a
conscienceless combination? 1t can
only mean the absolute elimination of
the Progressive party, a party which
bade fair to become the great radical
party OF the nation, and which, when
it should shortly secure the combined
support of radical Democrats as well
as radical Republicans, would newt
ably become the dominant party of
the nation.
II Means Destruction.
Must these new parties learn the
disaster of compromise and conces-
sion only through their own bitter and
self-destructive experience?
In 1896 the Populist party promised
to become the great popular party of
the United States. The Republican
party dreaded it and tempted it and
the Populist party complied and died.
The Populist party gained no mate
rial or spiritual benefit for itself or
its followers by its Illicit alliance with
the Republican party, nor did it in
fluence the Republican party one whit
toward the adoption of the Progress
sive policies to which the Populist
party had once consecTated its career.
The Independence party of New
York promised 20 become q potent
factor in state and national affairs
until it, mindful only of an immediate
object and forgetful of it's ultimate op-
portunity, combined with the Demo-
cratic party and lost its individuality
and its existence.
The Lesson for the Progressive party
of today lies luminous in the deplora-
BILE fates which have overtaken SINH
lar parties on similar occasions in
times past
The disaster which has befallen
foolish and faithless radical parties
before is the best answer to any plea
of policy in behalf of the selfish sug-
SesteG com bination of Progressives
and Republicans, SO little of policy is
there in such a combination.
Now. to consider how much of
Birth of ProgreSsives-
The Progressive party separated
from the Republican party four yea rs
ago because the Repu plican party was
controlled by an autocratic machine
because 1t was dominated by the po-
litical agents of the privileged classes:
| because it was mercenary and reac-
tionary in its every attitude and advo-
cacy; because it was deaf to the de-
mands of the people for social, eco
no:nic and political reforms.
Has the Republican party SO chang
| ed, or has the Progressive party so
changed that altered conditions justi-
~ and invite a reunion?
Is not the Republican convention of
| today obviously as much in the hands
of an insolent and autocratic machine
as was the Republican convention OF
! four years ago?
i Is not the machine of this conven-
ton as much in the control of the
agents of special privilege as it was
in the convention of 1912?
Is not this convention as reaction
airy as that former convention and as
DULY indifferent to the modern con
ditions which surround it and the pop
ular demands which beset it?
If any Progressive doubts the un-
changeable character of the Republic
can party under its present machine
CONTROL let him read the reactionar!
party platform which was unanimous
ly adopted by the convention and theI
turn to the Progressive p1ankS tina
were offered by one lone voice. onl.
to be unanimously and derisively re
jected.
Initiative and Referendum.
The initiative was voted down ami,
roars of laughter.
The referendum was rejected witt
Government ownership was repudi
ated amid sneerS and slurs.
Woman's suffrage was made a jes
and jeer. and so on throughout
4 list of principles which constitute tn
4 chosen policies of the Progressive par
ty and the cherished beliefs of tn
thinking people of the United States.
There are some conditions unde
4 which the sacrifice of the ProgressiV
party's individuality and opportunity
under which even the BETRAYAL OF tn
hopes and confidence of the Progress
sive party'S devoted adherentS Nigh
4 be justifiable.
If the Progressive party and the Re
publican party believed in the sam
= lofty principles and if they had tn
s same noble objects for their eXalte
aims and ambitions, a union would b
at least honorable and perhaps essen
tial for the best benefit of the citizen
8 ship which each sought sincerely t
81 serve.
A Disgraceful Union.
But a union based on expediency O
treachery. on timidity. on folly an
faulty, is as disgraceful as it woul
. be destructive.
A telegram has been sent by a Re
publican delegate to Theodore Roost
B Welt asking him to come to Chicae
and expedite this unnatural and ur
81 profitable union.
III If Theodore Roosevelt has on
B friend in the Progressive party who
B true TO him and true to the principle
81 of the party. let that friend send
Mr. Roosevelt the following better ar
b wiser message:
h Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. Oysts
4 Bay, n. Y: / urge you to come
8 Chicago and use your splendid abilit
b and anity, not to disrupt and destro
the Progressive party, but to eSta Bills