Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-05
Raymond Robins Urges i,
Progressives to SuppOrti a.
G. O. P. Nominee
PRAISES PARTY TENpn.
Third Party, Hopelessly n. /,
Abandoned by Mass Of
Voters

llberately and In overwheInins -.
abandoned their party, Raymond ~,
one-time Progressive-D Democrat sns
man Of the 1916 Progressive conv.r,,.u
a statement Issued today urges an !,
gressives to support Charles Eysns n,
for the presidency.
The statement Is addressed ITO m,
low Progressive" and says the a., !,
nearly three-fourths Of the Prorra.,,...
1912 refused to support the Prose-,
in 1914 proves that thsv -.
the Progressive candidates "as IN. -
sentatlves Of protest, and not of ~.
Mr.. Robins assails the Democrs,,, !,
in Illinois and deela,., =,
the Progressive Democrats of IlinoI, ~
1eartsick minority"
PARTY'S RISE AND FALL.
Mr.. Robins reviews the rise and ,,n
he Progressive party briefly, saying,
In our first campaign. whTs -.
actual vote was an extraordinary IA,
timony to Colonel Roosevelt's person.,
popularity, we elected no single Pm.
gressive Governor. or Legislatur. =,
sufficient members to be even a III
ance of power In Congress. This. ho,
ever, was no discouragement 10 tho,.
Progressives who did not seek an.
and were ready to fight on through A.,
number of defeats to gain a Renuu.
victory. In 1914 we had a real ~,
OF the Progressive voters of 1914 aps
the willingness OF the American paoul,
to use new party in the practical ~
luton Of the problems of our polItlo,l
life. Generally throughout the natIos
the Progressive candidates-embraeIn,
its most gifted leaders and all rensr.
ously supported by Colonel Roosey,a
and. as a rule, fairly treated by IA,
daily press-ran n bad third. Neary
three-fourths of the Progressive voter
Of 1912 refused to support the ProErd
sive candidates in 1914.
PARTY ABANDONED.
Under our system of government u.
voters are at last supreme. No Eit,
of leadership nor merit Of progran
can finally drive the American peop.
into party against their will. In u,
1914 and 1916 primaries the Progre%
sive voters of 1912 deliberately and
in overwhelming numbers abandonN
the Progressive party.
While had hoped against hope that
the extraordinary events in this epochil
hour might over-rule the verdict Of
the voters, II was manifest that the
end which the voters had decreed had
ha hA arf,,
dead.
TWO BIG PARTIES.
Taking up next the duty Of Progressive
the crisis in which they find themssyu
: points out the merits of the two gfti
'litical parties, as he views them, SaNa
part:
The primary voter mass control Of
the Democratic party is in l5 Southern
and Southwestern States and In the
industrial cities of the nation. Th
fixed Southern control of the Demo
cratic party Is individualistlc In 10
thinking, sectional in its sympathia
and inherits a tradition against Com
mon labor as servile. The Democrats
primary voter mass control In the 10.
dustrlal cities is the most heterogens-
Gus OF our national groups and the
excessive pressure OF living and indus
trial conditions renders II the mof
fertile field for boss control in the serV,
Ice OF selfish personal and corporate IN
terests.
The primary voter mass control o.
the Republican party Is in the ruTal
communities of the central. western
and New England States. This group
represents the highest literaey 10
America, is freest from severe social
and economic pressure, is in the sots
of the greatest natural tendency o
industrial Standardization and equally
of opportunity, and inherits the tradi.
tion Of Lincoln and the men who saved
the Union.
REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD.
The Republican party-though Oftsl
by the masters OF speelal
privilege and made by them the in'
strument of vast exploitatiOn-has
rank and file OF men and women who
have proved their capacity to relea
false or dishonest leadership. Con-
'eived in moral revolt against humaA
slavery, 1t was born. baptized and nui-
ured in the supreme national strugps
20 maintain the national heritage ana
'ulhl the promise OF equal opportunlu
% every citizen. Is not its rank Ana
lie best calculated to support leader.
ship that viii create a national mina
md conscience. and having preserves
he integrity of the nation against me
leresy of secession, will II not deYelop
Ind maintain a progressive natienai
'rogram of social and economic orsans
ation?
COMMENDS HUGHES.
ir Robins then points out that won.
Irage, Industrial and military prepsis
and a consistent patriotic foreign =
are the great vital issues in the ca
sn and concludes that on its reeoru
performance and present tendencies y
'ublican party. under the Leadership
shes. is best qualified TO achieve lns-
lonal needs. He says in conclusion;
ComprehendinR our national nscessl'
les, how can a Progressive hesluA's
ing TO choose between the party o.
ationalism and the party OF seeton'
lismI Should not wise and sinesis
rogressives go en- masse into the hs
lbllcan primaries and, nEnuns
loulder to shoulder with progressNs
epublieans, help and be helped IN ou
'mmon struggle for social and indus
'ial justice in city. State and nation
this Is generally done the common
onds OF our fellowship for the last loul
ears VIII not be broken, but rathsl
lgmented, and We can continus
ork together and bring back enAs
med Republican party to its ancisA'
nth In human rights and national ~
gritty. which made its triumph unasl
lneoln's leadership the suprem.
'hievement OF the democratic spirit =
le history OF mankind.
r. Robins stresses the point that u -
cal day and the period to follow
opean war the eountry's Interests
best guarded under a Republican
.stration.
roo LArE FOE cLAssITIcArles