Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-05-04
A DISTINCTION SHOULD BE
MADE.

From now until the primary in
May the Tidings will have more or
less to say regarding "reactionary"
and progressive" republicanism.
During the past few years there
has developed two distinct wings in
the republican party. One, the reac-
tionary, stand-pat, aristocratlcal ele-
ment, composed of men like Rookie
feller, the railroad interests, Cannon,
Barnes and Burton; the other repre-
sented by such men as Hughes, La
Toilette, Cummins, Beveridge, Roose-
welt and the rank and file Of the re-
publican party.
Two years ago many progressive
republicans supported the Bull Moose
party and voted for Mr.. Roosevelt.
In fact, Roosevelt carried Jackson
county by some twenty-five hundred
plurality, showing conclusively that
a large majority of Jackson county
republicans were so tired of reaction
airy party control that they chose to
leave the party for the occasion to
rebuke the old order of party meth
ods and management. Republican
registration this year set over against
progressive party registration in
Jackson county indicates that most
Of such have returned to the republi-
can fold and will vote in the May
primaries. We assume that the pro-
gressives returned because they had
hope OF reforming the party organiza-
tion from within. Not believing in
democratic principles, they desired
republican success II 1t were possible
OF accomplishment without utter ca
pitulation to the old order Of things.
Registration in Jackson county in
dicates that the party, united at the
November election, will poll large
majority. Therefore, every voter in
terested in republican supremacy
should be favorable to such course
as will result in republican success.
In discussing that issue (and the
supremacy Of progressive principles
and management OF the republican
organization In Jackson county is,
and should be made, the paramount
party issue in the May primary, the
Tidlngs, in referring to progress
ives" will be understood to mean the
progressive element Of the republican
party and not the Bull Moose" par
ty, and when II refers to reaction
aries" II means that element of the
republican party that pines to go
back to the old boss days when close
corporation party rule was the Or
der, and to those who formed the
local "close corporation"
The Tldings believes the progress
i've element comprises a large major
lty OF the republican party in Jack
son county-in the state OF Oregon,
for that matter-and believing In the
American principle Of majority rule,
thinks Z advisable that the strength
OF the two elements be tested out In
the coming primary and whichever
has the majority should, by rights,
dominate the party machinery.
The old machine has hand-picked
a full ticket OF party committeeman
who will appear on the primary bal
lot. Also, we are informed, the pro-
gressIve wing OF the party has nomi-
mated committeeman and will contest
the places with the reactlonaries
The Tidings unhesltatlngly takes Its
stand for progressive party control,
believing when the party organiza'
tIon is brought into harmony with
the majority sentiment OF the party
democratic supremacy In Jackson
county will be speedily brought to an
.-A