The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-09-20
THE GREATEST PROGRESSIVE


Noted as an author and editor, an
ardent supporter OF the Progressive
party four years ago. Ida NJ. TarbeIl,
in a recent interview declares that
President Wilson lis the first real
progressive leader-using that term in
its modern sense-that America has
produced" and announces that she will
do all in her power to bring about his
reelection. Miss TarbelIs statement,
which is one Of the most interesting
contributions to the literature Of the
present campaign, concludes as fol-
lows:
'Yes, he's our greatest progressive.
He should have been that party's can
didate last June. He would have un-
derstood them. which Mr.. Roosevelt
did not. The convention was tre-
mendous gatherings unit from start
to finish. 1t was a nucleus for a great
and a holy crusade. Roosevelt could
have done anything with that crowd.
He could have had that party solid
for Hughes il he had wanted to, but
in Ifs chagfi4 at the refusal OF the Re-
I publican convention to nominate him
he threw them over his shoulders.
think the trouble was that Roosevelt
had sincerely come to feel that he was
essential to the Ct,untry's salvation
He saw himself as a providence and
when to his surprise the Republicans
refused to take his estimate OF himself
he turned his back on the Progress
sives. / could not believe it true. J
still do not believe he could have done
1t If he had been there and seen and
felt that wonderful body. And TO
think of his suggesting Henry Cabot
Lodge to them The comedy ani
tragedy Of IT.
mind you, there Is much in Mr..
Roosevelt that l admire. He has done
many great things. 1t is a great pity
that we cannot continue to get out OF
him and Mr.. Taft all that they could
give us. They both should be in con-
gress. That's the place for all ex-
presidents. Why should we not have
half dozen national congressmen-at-
large? Think what an asset these
men would be now
~Mr Hughes? have great respect
for him. He certainly gave US one of
the most refreshing and stimulating
intellectual exhibits in the insurance
investigation which the country has
had in years And he was a courage
Gus and intelligent governor. His
years on the supreme court bench
seem to have taken him out Of the
world-and he has not yet found him
self. Certainly. he has not as yet Civ
en- any sign of understanding or SYM
pathizing with the thing we call pro
gressivesm. And as far as | can see,
President Wilson is the only leader
we have that does.
"A progressive Of President VIII
sons type is big enough to see that
issue OF 1916, because Of the world
wide shake-up in the last three years.
must be different than those oi 1912.
There is something bigger to talk
about today than the referendum -
New issues are bound to come to the
front-perhaps with startling rapidity
and frequency. President Wilson can
bring to these issues his tremendous
experience. The evolution in thought
and action OF the last four years may
be as nothing to that which is to take
;lace in the next four Docs any
American today see bigger. better, OF
more dispassionately or clearer than
President Wilson? ] believe that the
2rogressives viii see this; if they |
don't. it is a reflection on their intelh /
goaee.
i president Wilson has proved his I
fitness to lead the cause Of progres
sise civilization. True. he has not
yet had time to convert the man who
cries for his pound Of flesh, nor al
tered the vision Of him who fails t1
see that bloody war is but the primi-
tive expression Of savage weakness
promofed bv the ignoble desire Of con.
quest or revenge.
"But be has forced respect fot aegs
traHty and he has handled his d,Naate
Mexican inheritance with tact and
wisdom. And for the Machaevelliaa
authority diplomacy and the resort to
cannon in internationahsm he has sub
sttuted the Sermon on the Mount
-. -. .......4 4s.-F IF,r.E f.-sr,nla.1