The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-11
SAYS PROGRESSIVES
ACCOMPLISHED MUCH
George w. Perkins Also Believes That
They Will Accomplish Much More
for the Good of Their
Country.

Chicago, Jan. ll.-George w. Perkins,
of the Progressive national committee
last night, on the eve of its meeting to
prepare for the coming campaign, an
swered what he termed the persistent
charge that our leaders have abandoned
their course" by pointing to the fact
that at the meeting to-day practically
every state will be represented by a
national committeeman from the Pro-
gressive party, all with the determined
purpose to serve their country's inter-
ests.
"As is always the case in great moral
struggles" Mr.. Perkins said, I'VE have
had many discouragements, but now on
the eve of the meeting of our national
committee, | am sure | voice the senti-
ment OF every, man present and the
thousands of loyal men and women
whom he represents, when | say that
we are glad we engaged in the struggle;
that we have accomplished vast deal
OF good for our country and, God will
ing, will accomplish vast deal more
ITO the constant and persistent charge
that our leaders have abandoned their
cause, that our party is mere paper
organization, that we have failed and
have surrendered to the men who forced
the fight upon us, we answer that at
o-morrows meeting practically every
state in this union will be represented
by national committeeman from the
Progressive party; that 90 per cent of
the men who led the fight in 1912 will
be here in person or represented at to-
morrow's meeting all with one deter
mined purposes, viz, to use their best
Judgment, expressed through the high
est patriotism, to serve their country's |
broadcast interests.
"Oor country is now entering the pre-
liminary stages of great national cam
paign. 1t is essentially time for the |
broadcast and highest order of states
and patriotism. The question |
to be settled by our people and the |
leader to be selected to guide the des-
TIMES of this country in the next mo-
mentous four years are of the utmost /
welfare. At no time since the Civil /
war has our country faced problems Of
such vast magnitude as those that will
be forced by the next administration.
The results of the present war are
bound to open up new world, econom
lcally, religiously, periodically. Our
country needs adership-leadershi
with vision, courage, patriotism, in or
Ter to reach wise solution of the prob
ems confronting us.
The Democratic party has utterly
'ailed in vision, in courage, in patriotism.
At its hands we are now enjoying pros
Derity through accident and preparing
or adversely through neglect. AT its
hands our national honor is sullied at
home and degraded abroad.
"The leaders of the Republican party |
ire speechless in our country's great |
'risis. Only a few days ago they met
1t Washington just as Congress was
for one of the most impor-
ant sessions in the history of our coun-
ry, and the men who claim to repre-
'ent the great, old, time-honored Re- j
publican party-the men who claim to |
the hundreds Of thousands of i
forward looking members of /
hat party, apparently could not think |
# a thing to say to the country. II
"Finding as we do at this hour of q
risis in the affairs of the world the J
o-called leaders of the Democratic and
Republican parties utterly unable to r
Use to the occasion it behooves us to
earnestly, unselfshly, patriot
cally, and by our action tomorrow
how the people of this country that we :
re thinking of needs of the people.
"The course we take must be con {
tructive, not destructive. And /:
then We announce the result of our de-
iberations, whatever il may be, we
lust announce it in no uncertain man :
er, and after we have announced it we :
lust be prepared to back it up to the
cry last trench"