Evening star., 1916-10-14
!. NJ. PARKER URGES
WILSON'S ELECTION
Progressive Leader Scores
"Betrayar' of Party by
Roosevelt and Perkins.
PRAISES THE PRESIDENT

NEW YORK. October 14-With a
Wilson. John NJ. Parker. progressive
candidate for vice president delivered
an address here today at a reception
given him by members of the national
progressive party, in which he dwelt
somewhat at length on the part taken
by Theodore Roosevelt and George w
Perkins in the efforts to get the pro-
gressive and republican conventions in
Chicago last June to unite on a presi-
Dental candidate.
Mr.. Parker quoted Col Roosevelt as
saying in 1913 that It am for this
cause to fight to the end while
life lasts and that IT will never
abandon the principles to which we
progressives have pledged ourselves.
and I will never abondon the men and
women who drew around me to battle
for these principles
He also quoted George W. Perkins
as stating he was opposed to return
ing to the republican party because it
had been more reactionary than ever"
Statement Accepted at Par.
The statement of our leader" Mr..
Parker continued. "and the concur
renee of the chairman of our executive
committee were accepted at par by
trusting body Of men and women who
implicitly believed in our leaders. The
tragedy of the great geathering at
Chicago from June to June TO- in
elusive. is a matter of history"
Mr.. Parker said he had information
that every move in the progressive con-
vention was approved by Col Roosevelt
over the telephone. AS member of
the committee on conference, he said
when a request was presented by Mr.
Perkins from Col. Roosevelt that the
name of Henry Cabot Lodge be sug-
sested for President. IT emphatically
declined to be messenger or carry
any suggestions to the republican COM
mittee. as I recognized the right of no
mon to turn US over body and soul to
those same republican wolves against
whom lifelong republicans had revolted
in 1912"
The pledged word of honor of the
leaders. he said. were mere scraps of
paper and practically show that polit-
ical honor is as little regarded as the
the nomination. Mr.. Parker said. with
the certainty that it amounted to moth
ing politically except a large volume
of both ridicule and vituperation"
ne TedilZeC, ne SAID, that II he de-
clined the nomination it would be
thought he was "a party to the be-
trayal of the principles that brought
the progressive convention together"
Thanks Due to President.
II am not democrat" Mr.. Parker
said. but believe the thanks of this
nation are due to Woodrow Wilson for
what he has accomplished In the shape
of progressive legislation that has
brought untold millions happiness and
prosperity to our people"
He praised the establishment of the
regional bank as "one of the greatest
constructive pieces of legislation in the
history Of the nation" and declared
that commerce and industry are thriv-
ing here as never before. II do not
claim that these results are due to the
progressive party solely" he added,
but progressive thought, progressive
energy and progressive brain have GER
tainly helped to bring these things
about and to keep our nation at peace
with all the world" He urged every
progressive to vote their ticket in
states where they had one
And in those states where we have
been BETRAYED by former leaders and
by those who weakly carry out their
orders" he said. Il appeal to every
thinking man and woman Interested in
the material welfare of our country
devoted to their family and their fu-
ture. to vote their honest convictions
and support Woodrow Wilson for Pres
ident of the United States"