South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-05
G. w. Perkins Was
Against eHDery
of ProgressiUeS

AS matters stand today it would
be more easy TO make an argument
for our affiliating with the demo-
Gratis than it would be with the re-
publicans"
Less than a year ago George W.
Perkins wrote the foregoing. He is
the same Mr.. Perkins who is now
endeavoring TO deliver" the pro-
gressive party to the G. o. 2. or
ganization. The statement was oc-
casioned by the action of Freder-
lex Davenport and Theodore Doug
las Robinson in going back 10 the
republican party in New York state.
Mr. Perkins is now a member OF
the republican campaign commit
tee. His arguments OF less than a
year ago, when he was a progress
sive, however carry just as much
force today as they did then.
Mr. Perkins. August g. 1915, wrote:
The idea of trying 10 deliver
voters en- masse TO another party
seemed so utterly out of order and
unfair. and seemed to be striking
so at the very heart OF our whole
organization that after careful con-
sideration and consultation with a
number of our friends / decided to
go 10 the Buffalo meeting, which
was by far the largest one, and pro-
test. in the name of the national or
ganization, against any such action"
Looked for Penitent G.. O. T..
Mr.. Perkins also wrote.
The argument of Messrs. Daven-
port. Robinson and Hamlin is that
We are so weakened that we cannot
hope TO win; that if we go back en-
masse to the republican party we
can reform the party from within
and accomplish the undoing next
year of the bosses and reactionary
tendencies Of that organization.
ITO my mind this is such an alb
surd proposition that IL hardly re-
quires an argument against it. If
there had been during this year or
any time since 1912 any indication
that the owners of the republican
party had in the slightest degree
airy inclinations. then the question
of returning to that party might be
a debatable one but every one of us
knows that they have shown no such
inclination, and on the contrary.
wherever they have had "A chance,
have been more reactionary than
ever"
Mr.. Perkins also wrote:
Indeed, the very fact Of our re-
turning now. with all the things that
the republican party has done since
1912, would have TO be constructed
as indOrsing all these actions. and
as complete surrender on our part
and an acknowledgment that we
were wrong in 1912, and would
knuckle under and obey the men
whom up to date we have we have
denounced"
His Opinion of Democrats.
Mr.. Perkins also wrote this:
ION the other hand. the demo-
Gratis are showing some indication of
being in favor this next winter of
the tariff commission They have
at least taken tiny little bit of a
step in our direction on the great
trust and corporation question. In
this state New York; the demo-
Gratis have given us the only social
justice legislation that has been
enacted. while the republicans have
since tried TO nullify that legisla-
ton.
You all know that personally |
am ODDoSed TO democratic rule. that
| have not approved of President
Wilson's policies. No one can &C
cuse me of leanings in that direction.
but as matters stand today il would
be more easy to make an argument
for our affiliating with the demo-
Gratis than it would with the repub-
leans