Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-29


national committee tonight voted to
endorse Charles f. Hughes for presi-
dent. The vote was 80 to &. with nine
declining to vote on the ground that
the committee was exceeding it's pow
ers in taking such action.
Chicago. June 2G.--By a vote Of 81
to -, the progressive national commit
tee late to-day went on record as being
opposed to putting n third ticket in the
field. The committee voted down
motion to substitute the name of Vic
tor Murdoch of Kansas to fill the va
cancy caused by the declination of
Theodore Roosevelt to head the pro-
grcssivc ticket.
New York. June 26.-Charles f.
Hughes. republican nominee for pres-
dent, sent Il telegram to O. X. Davis
secretary of tho progressive national
committee, tonight. welcoming the
support of the Progressive party and
arraigning the present administration.
Roosevelt in a long letter addressed
and read to the committee to-day sets
forth his reasons in detail why he de-
clined to accept the Progressive party's
nomination for president. After thank
ing the men and women of the country
for their loyalty to progressive princi-
pies and their trust in his leadership
he says:
PARTY NO LONGER EFFECTIVE.
"'rhe progressive movement has been
given an incalculable impetus by what
the Progressive party has done. Our
strongest party antagonists have ac-
ceptcd and enacted into law. or EN-
bodied in their party platforms, very
many of our most important principles
Much has been accomplished in awaken
ing the public to better understanding
of the problems of social and industrial
welfare.
Yet it has become entirely evident
that the people under existing condi-
tons are not prepared to accept a new
party
1T is impossible for us prosressives
to abandon our convictions. But we are
faced with the fact that as things
actually arc the progressive national
organization no longer offers the means
whereby We can make these convictions
effective in our national life. Under such
circumstances our duty is to do the best
we can. and not to sulk because our
leadership is rejected. That We our
selves continue to believe that the course
we advocated was in the highest inter-
est of the American people is aside
from the question. 1t is unpatriotic to
refuse to do the best possible merely
because the people have not put us in
position to do what we regard as the
very best. 1t remains for us, good
humoredly and with common sense, to
face the situation and endeavor to sc,
out Of it the best that it can be made to
yield from the standpoint of the inter
ests of the nation as u whole,
This was the situation at the open
ing of the present year. 1t was clearly
evident that unless a cataClYsm oC-
CURED the presidential election would
result in the choice of either the re-
publican or the democratic nominee
The present administration. during IT'S
three years of life, had been guilty
| of shortcomings more signal thar
those of any administration since tn,
days of buchanan. From the standpoint
of national honor and interest, il
stood on an even lower level than tn,
administration of Buchanan. No ad-
minstration in our history had don,
more to relax the spring of the nation
al will and to deG1len the national con
science. Within the Republican party
condictine forces were at work. Their,
were men among the organization lead
ers who advocated n course Of actor
sucb as offored no inprove,nent unor
tho democratic nosition and odvo
cated tho nomination OF candidate,
WHOSE e,ection would have renresent
cd no imnrovemert unop tho cortipu.
,nco In orrico Of Mr. Wilson II enc,
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nra,art suot roo,ssit,.. 20 40 o,,or,,
,hirg sbort 90 socri6c,r our r,os
saorod oor,.i,,ior a., ,aar % soo,,r,
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