The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-07
STAND BY our
PRINCIPLES is
B. MOOSE Def
RAYMOND Robins Opens Pro-
gressives' Convention.
PREPAREDNESS Biggest Issue;
T. r. Man of the Hour.
pRODIGAL READY TO RETURN
But Won't Sell Birthright for
Mess of POttage.
Defeat Rather Than Victory by
Treason of Principles.

~ Treason OF RrlnclpIeSs
Chicaeo. June THE keynote adj
dress of the Progressive party's ma
ttonaI convention here today, deIV-
cred by Raymond Robins of chicago
as temporary chairman, asserted IN
vigorous terms
by the announcement made by the ma
tional committee last January that the
partv will Join the Republicans II the
latter dominates for president a man
true to Progressive principles:
g. That the principle. however, IS
greater than the party, and if need be
the Progressives will go on alone;
8. That preparedness is the para
mount issue of the campaign; and
a. That Theodore Roosevelt Is the
man of the hour.
ssWhat this country needs now is a
man." announced Mr.. Robins In the
course of his speech he said: Now
as we are met again in national con-
vention there comes to us once more
a common knowledge that in 1919 we
sounded forth a trumpet that shall
never call retreat And we know that
we are here to write a record that
shall witness alike to the faint-heart-
I'd and the skeptical and to the great
army still faithful to the cause. that
our vision is yet undimmed and that
our standards have not been furled.
Our Priceless Heritage.
But the noblest common heritage
of America is not her natural wealth
nor are her best traditions found in
the chronicles of her commercial
greatness We may well confess that
rational ideals, American ingenuity,
industry and courage might have
achieved greater material welfare for
all her people, and with her vast nat
ural resources she might well have
done away with that grinding poverty
that is now unknown in many less IA
vored lands. We may take just pride
in the lesser achievements of our peo-
pie in developing the physical re-
sources of a continent but not there
lies the true greatness of America.
Selfish business and politics never
listed in the assets of America her
most valuable possession, the priceless
heritage which alone is worth the sac
rificial cost of preparedness to defend
against the world-her democratic
plain that we stand alone among the
great nations not dominated by the
ideal of Caesar. We have our ruth
less master men. confident of their
right and ability to rule their fellows.
but they do not rule US yet.
I'VE gather to determine our pro-
gram to meet the practical needs for
national action in this time of havoc
and horror in other lands. And it is
well that we should approach our task
with the vision of a better day. We
may we'll resolve that no worse day
with havoc and horror in our midst
shall be known to US or to the coming
generations and that we shall wisely
plan to preserve in peace our great in
heritance.
For National Preparedness.
competent program for national
Preparedness must comprehend and
meet the social, economic, and spirit
ua1 needs of the people. Mere military
preparedness alone is inadequate for
the safeguarding of the nations life
even in time of war. The final issue
of the titanic struggle that now con-
vulses Europe will be decided in the
homes, workshops, fields. and labor
atories of the peoples now at war Any
program for national security in time
OF war that does not involve social and
economic security in time of peace is
false to the needs of the nations life,
and arouseS suspicion as to the good
faith or intelligence of it's advocates
The great nations now at war
have developed and organized Coop
erative industry, capable of economic
production, unprecedented in the his
tory of international commerce To
meet these new economic weapons in
the markets of the world, American
industrial life must undergo complete
reorganization. The old wastes must
be eliminated and the old methods
transformed. Americans must be
equipped to hold her share of the
worlds trade. The old log-rolling de-
vices of special interests using tariff
schedules as a public commission for
private plumber are as destructive to
national welfare as they are intoler-
able to the national conscience. We
must speedily prepare to deal with
these problems, particularly with that
of the tariff with a scientific nom
partisan machinery of government
functioning for the commercial ad-
vantage of all the people.
Forget Personal Strife.
I'VE believe that the need and op-
portunity of the time is such that per
sonal differences, Iartisan bitterness
and local prejudices should be sur
rendered to serve the nations highest
good We should not be parted by
mere names, however dear, nor by
past resentments, however justified.
but we should solemnly warn all
those of an easy and accommodating
political virtue that we will not sur
render principle nor make unworthy
compromise to gain a meaningless and
selfish political victory We would
rather face possible defeat fighting
for our cause than to seek assured vic
tory through moral treason to those
high principles and heroic souls that
combined to make us the second party
of this nation in 1912. The 1920, 600
voters who followed our leader and
espoused our cause can be augmented
to a majority perhaps more easily
under united banners, but if need be
the Progressive standard will go for
ward alone. We cannot believe that a
rule or ruin faction will dominate the
political machinery of the historic
party of Lincoln and that they will
prefer personal defeat and national
degradation to acceptance of the fore
most leadership of the nation. But
in this day and hour it should be made
plain that the choice is in our hands
and that the judgment of the people
will be upon our heads.
Americans for One and All.
1--WE are ready to keen full and gen