The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-07

circus faith with the declaration of
our national committee in January of
the present year. But if our faith
snail meet no response and we alone
stand ready to meet the demands up
on the patriotism of American political
leadership, we shall not shirk the task.
There are worse things than tenn
porary defeat for great principles of
human Justice and moral truth
FOR our part we feel that in this
solemn hour no motive of personal in
tereStS or party adYa ntage will be toll
Grated TO thwart the awakened CON
science and intelligence of the Amer
lean people
The Progressi1 es stand for Ameri-
can1sm and prepa redness. They stand
Tor an Americanism which is not quail
l1led by differences in blood or birth
or creed They stand for prepared
ness of the body and of the spirit, in
dustrial and social as well as military.
with universal service for the defense
of the nation.
Supreme Need of a Man.
In the midst of changing condi-
tons, unparalleled in history, we can
not even forecast the problems that
will confront America in the next
fours years. The chief issue TODAY is
one of leadership, the supreme need
for a man. 1t has been said that
every great movement in human af-
atty. This nation needs a leader in
this hour whose abstract promises
have been tested by concrete per-.
Torrance. Again, we will speak plain
ly.
would any disinterested patriot
untouched with partisan prejudice or
personal feeling hesitate long to name
the leader best fitted to serve this
cause? His name is on the lips of the
nation, Two great parties claim him
as their own He was our leader in
1912. He was the leader of the Re
publican party for many years. He
was president of our nation for seven
years. There is no man in America
today who holds as he does alike the
confidence of the American people and
the ungrudging respect of every nation
IN the world. He has been a master
politician, but he has refused ever to
play politics with the destiny of his
country The American people are
waiting for the leader, to be named
mere IN Chicago. They want leader
whom they know and who speaks for
tnem They want firmness in our for
elgn artalrs- They want certainty in
stating and upholding the rights of
American citizens. They want cour-
age TO announce a program and tenac-
lty to fight it through. There are mil
mons or patriotic men and women
spalnlng eyes toward Chicago and
convention may unite upon a man who
viii get things done. They have been
reading speeches on preparedness and
holes on american rights for drearv
Inonths-only to learn at last that we
nave no rights except those we are
dole 10 enforce and that we are not
now prepared to enforce even the rigbt
of an American citizen TO live 1vi+b;r,
Ialolng distance of the Mexican bor-
ger We learn that more Americans
nave been killed in keeping peace with
Me1lco than were killed in fiehtine a
war with Spain. ling
People Have One Choice.
,,a1 ~ would be easy to denounce the
present administration and the fail
ures of the Democratic partv To see
me national welfare and the interna-
tlonal obligations of America CRIT
lclsm and denunciation are the com
R'.t PIaces OF political controversy.
but we believe this hour is worthy Of
nobler purpose and of better
method. We remember that tbere
nave been deeper problems and ner-
piexitles presented to our government
IN the past two years than at anv
time for half a century and that thay
were presented to men for the most
past lll-prepared in training or skill
Tor such responsibility Some of the
responsibility for their errors is upon
US all. It is for US to see that tbe
future shall be better than the mast
ana 1t IS in that spirit rather than in
one or partisan criticism that we an
proach the duties which lie before us
The nation waits for that leader
ship to come out of the Chicago con
Vent1ons which will restore to our
selves and to the ople of other ma
lions that respect for the American
government which is essential to the
well being of a nation. It is no time
for divided opposition. 1t is no time
for one party to offer to the other a
partisan choice. It is a time when
wise leaders will listen to the voices
of the nation to choose their nor.inee.
And those voices now repeat one
name. If there was ever a call of
the people it is sounding now