Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-11
ROOSEVELT ARRAIGNS
PRESIDENT IN APPEAL
TO THE PROGRESSIvES
Wires Party's National Com
mittee, Meeting in Chicago,
That Country's Honor Has
Been Trailed in Dust
MoosERs FAVOR MERGER

CHICAGO. Jan. H. - Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt today wired the Progressiv,
National Committee. as 1t met prior t'
selecting n date for the party's conven
tion pleading that IL cast aside all purely
partisan considerations in behalf OF pre-
/ paredness.
Roosevelt's message declared that with
the country facing great crisis the ma
tion had fallen far short of its duties foi
! the last rs months.
RoosEvELTs PLEA.
The telegram, which was read to the
/ committeeman and scores of other Pro-
I gressive leaders at a conference prelim-
mary to the executive meeting of the com
mittee. was:
II send you my hearty greetings. We,
as a ountry, are facing a great world
crisis in which, for the last 1SS months
this nation has fallen far short OF its
duty. both TO its own people and to the
law abiding and Justice loving nations OF
mankind. There is a crying need that
we shall cast aside all purely partisan
considerations and disregard all but the
vital issues affecting the national life, and
shall strive whole heartcdly for n sound
Amerlcauism which shall insist that
every man who is within our borders
shall be an American and nothing else.
I'VE must do Justice to our own people
a home; we must insist that they have
Justice when abroad. We must insist
upon the most thorough going prepared
ness to protect our rights against all pos
sible attacks by any aggressor. Such pre-
paredness Is the best guarantee of hon
orable peace. We must ever remember
that there cannot be such preparedness in
things material unles there is also that
preparedness of soul and of spirit, which
alone renders nation fit to perform its
high and difficult duties in national and
international life.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Three-fourths of tn, committeeman
favor amalgamation with the Republican
party. IL 1t can be accomplished with
honor"
AS the committee prepared to meet at
the Congress hotel sentiment of both
Eastern and Western committeeman in
dicated n return to the Republican fold
was more than possible. 1t is all UP 10
the Republicans, they say.
Chances early today were considered
nine to one in favor of a Progressive Ma
tional Convention in Chicago June :,
with the Republican conven-
tion.
The Progressives have engaged 500 hotel
rooms here for the week of June Z.
"To DEFEAT WILSON"
Statements today by Colonel Cecil Lyon
of Texas. and William II. Hotchklss, of
New YORK, were considered as indica-
tory of sentiment among both Western
and Eastern Progressives
Colonel Lyon declared n combine of the
and Progressives on Roose-
Welt was the only possibility of defeating
woodrow Wilson. Hotchkiss echoed the |
sentiment
The Perkins dinner last night left no |
doubt where the Moose stand with Roose- |
welt. Scores Of the committeeman think |
Il is more than possible that IA majority |
Of the Republicans feel the same way |
about the Colonel.
John NJ. McGrath, Colonel Roosevelt's |
private secretary. accompanied Mr.. Per-
kins to Chicago,
Progressive leaders appear to be deter |
mined to force the nomination of Roose- |
velt.
The plan by which they hope TO force |
Colonel Roosevelt upon the Republicans |
was outlined by Frank Funk. candidate |
'or Governor OF Illinois in 1872.
I'VE likely win decide today to hold |
our convention here the same week the |
Republicans meet" said Funk. "If the |
Republicans plan to nominate their po-
tical candidate on Thursday we will |
dominate Roosevelt on Wednesday. Then, |
unless the G. o. p. nominates Roosevelt, |
i is a certainty that there will be third |
cket in the field"