Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-06-29

Party conflicting forces were at work
There were men among the organi-
zation leaders who advocated a course
of action such as offered no improve
ment upon the Democratic position,
and advocated the nomination of can
didates whose election would have rep
resented no Improvement upon the con
tinuance in office of Mr.. Wilson. IF
such course were followed, it would
obviously become our duty to run a
third ticket. But it was plainly our
duty to do everything honorable
in order to prevent such a necessity;
to do everything short of sacrificing
our most sacred Convictions in order
to secure the alignment under one
leadership of the forces opposed to the
continuance in power of Mr.. Wilson
and the Democratic Party.
Under these circumstances the Pro-
gressive National Committee, at Chi
cago, in January, outlined our duty
to seek common action with the Re-
publican Party, using the following
words: "Our people are seeking lead
2rship-leadership of the highest or
der and most courageous character;
leadership that will draft to itself for
the country's benefit the unselfish and
patriotic services of its ablest citizens
The surest way to secure for our coun-
try the required leadership will be by
having, if possible, both the Pregres-
sive and Republican Parties choose
the standard bearer and the same
principles"
Six weeks later, on March 9th in
my Trinidad statement, I asked for
a similar combination against the
Democratic Party, on a platform of
'clean-cut, straightout National Amer
icanism, 'and for a candidate "who
will not merely stand for such a pro-
gramme before election, but will reso-
lutely and in good faith put it through
if elected"
This was, in effect, the same state
ment that | made in my telegram to
ex-senator Jackson, pending the Con-
vention, which ran in part as follows:
Can we not, forgetting past differ
ences, now join, for the safety and
honor of our country, to enforce the
policies of genuine Americanism and
genuine Preparedness Surely we can
afford to act in accordance with the
words of Abraham Lincoln when he
said, May not all having a common
interest reunite in common effort to
save our common country? May we
ask those who have not differed with
us to join in this same spirit toward
those who have?' AS far as my own
soul is known to me it is this same
spirit that at this time | make nv
appeal to the Republicans and Progress
sives assembled at Chicago"
In addition to these public state
ments [ had also stated my own atti-
tude verbally, and in letters, during
the weeks Immediately preceding the
convention, to scores of leading Pro-
gresslves from all parts of the coun-
try, including many of the leaders at
the convention. To these men | ex-
pressed my earnest hope that the Re-
publicans would so act as to make it
possible for the Progressives to Join
with them. [ stated to them, however,
that IN view of the attitude of some
OF the Republican leaders it was at
least conceivable that we should be
put in a position where our highest
duty, our fealty to the country, our
sense of what patriotism demanded
in great crisis would make it i'm
peratlve upon us to run separate
ticket; and that whether in such event
it would be necessary for me to head
that ticket could not be determined
in advance. | stated in these inter
views and in these letters, with the
utmost emphasis, that the decision of