The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-11

wants. make the issue and for Gods
sake win the election for u.s."
r IL . strange situation. Te% ~
gressives are determined to nominate
Roosevelt and put It up to Hughes
{ decide whether he will lead a
divided tight. The Republicans may
counter BY . quick nomination Of the
Justice IN the hope that a strong state
ment from him may force the hands
OF Progressives and rally to him the
latent strength he undoubtedly pos
sesses there. but a strength which
has almost been alienated b. his
silence.
Every one wants Roosevelt q Chi
0so. the Progreesives now, the Re-
publicans at tho right time, which
q after tho nomination oe an
other candidate for . dramatic re-
entry TO the Republican party 1oP the
Zion Of the united enthusiasm. which
they know the present 6lundsStno and
tepid campaign requires What will
happen no one knowA n Rn't poll
tics; re poker. and every n b the
great spectacle. actor or audienoe. b
waiting from hour 10 hour. nse for
what transpires inside che osn~uEaion.
but for what Is mystertously tukfng
place outside. II Is all vs1y sDalains.
very tense and compelling. but ~ ID
vertised show lasA
This II true Of one ooav1DnuA Tno
real drama, moving. vsn1 ana dnprS-
meditated. Is in The fssmsnS a the
Progressive gathering. Ths ooudNA
IL absolute and striking n = the
contrast between the two sesfnAteon-
hictins forces Of political typ0I the
opportunist and the ideaiisS Thare y
no discipline in this Progressive con.
vent1on. but there Is no lack Of On.
thusiasm; spectators who have gone
ITO see the animals" remain i'm
pressed by the ge~nuineness OF it,
emotions. Nothing IL cut and dried;
every move arouses a storm Of de-
bate. Differ as you may with its prin-
ciples or doubt Its practical service
the fact remains that here at least is
a true convention OF the people as
democracy conceived IL. u conflict of
ideas. a searching for the truth after
the full expression OF many minds.
II has Its fanatics and It's thinkers.
a. L.
futile, hut there Is something that stiry
you here: Il IL perhaps the tragedy -.
a lost cause.-the last moments of
something that was conceived IN 'Io
hope OF a revolution of ideas-and II u
must now go down n failure Il -
going with no surrender oc pride oi
conviction. The great hiundcr nf these
first cropping days has been the fHilur"
to estimate rightly the strength Of this
progressive idealism. Old Guard pn-
litical leaders, accustomed to profess
s!onal adhcrents. could not be con
WINGED hat these were Of differcn'
stun.
Undoubtedly they believed that Pro
gressive leaders were b'uflng n that
their difficulties were ended when they
had matched wits with them and won.
But they have totally failed 10 compre-
bend the difference between a conven-
ton of those who regard discipline and
party obedience as paramount IN or
DERBY government and those n are
afame with the prophetic fSvef OF
treasured ideas.
Perhaps even mo practical osuAn-
Tiers Of the Progressive party ta1iod to
comprehend tho strength OF ho o.
sanization which they have eeen Etov-
ing UP under their hands. Al any TNto
the situation which a turned . COL
orless cut and dried programme into
one of thrills and dramatic ten1Aoms
lies exactly in tho fact the Pro0tO-
Hves have now gone beyond their ieAd-
ers ana taken control. resolved a0Alnst
all compromise.
10 the polttica1 Unservsr 0.01y -
Of only momentary annoyance ~ -
ordinary spectators the speooAo1s
OF this enthusiasm. aSn0Wetng
almost 20 fanattctm: theoo A.
dent passionate moments of SIM
cere debate, leaves him With but
one feeiing--the pity Of It. Tho traOsdy
that IN the material competition o4 $hs
modern scheme Of life such 0Al-
ISIS arc foredoomed 10 faituT~ v0s~
ever in their Independence end tmpe-
ttent Of d,cfation they como into Innm-
petition with tho disciplined Gps
which seeks practical resulta.
For the Progressive conveut0o =
mo n thing that cannot b feck-
oneh on. It II tho one factor that may
upset all calculation, The leaders
Themselves confess their inability 20
handle the situation. For tho gather
ing IL, strangely enough in these days
OF carefully organized machines.
popular movement and, Ike all popu-
lar movements. once in motion Il sends
It's leaders on ahead or tramples them
down. Just IA the German Emperor
created in the great German military
machine a master which finally i'm
posed It's will on him. SO tho leaders ~
the Progressive party have found they
have brought into existence someth!ng
that Is hctond their comprehension.
Tho Progrossives believe that the
alone represent n great popular 'deh,
their leaders NJ" tUolr scrt ants. tho"
have cnna further in their ranaticisn.
They have don what IN" French
Revolutlonists did IN thor passion tor
political truth. They hnNe exalted
,beir political hChrfS tn the SuhlmitV