South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-02
PR0GRESS|VEs ARE
NOT DELIVERABLE
Perkins and Roosevelt Must
Be Disappointed by De-
veIopmentS in Party.
News-Times Special Service:

| progressive party, through which
/ 1000. 900 of Independent voters eX-
pressed their disapproval of existing
conditions and their reputation of
that arrogant assumption of leader
ship and political bossism in 1912.
II George w. Perkins, the man
with the pocketbook, and Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt ever believed that
they could control or deliver
any large part of these 100000
voters. they must feel considerable
disappointment at -ecent develop
ments For them TO assume ans
such power. would nc a misconcep-
ton of the purposes and temper of
these 10000 voters. The spirit
v hich led them to support the pro-
gressiVe ticket in 1912 was not de-
sire to change political bosses. but
vas a reputation of all bossism,
showing the power of the people
when they choose to manage their
own affairs.
Much interest attaches TO the
national conference of progressives
which has been called to meet in In
30.
meeting was issued by Matthew Hale
of Mass. acting chairman of the
progressive national committee in
the absence of Chairman Victor
Murdoch of Kansas, who is on a trip
to China. The call was issued after
a number of leaders had conferred
with Mr.. Hale.
Progressive Ticket Strong
In the story printed by the In
national conference, this significant
paragraph appears:
John NJ. Parker Of New Orleans,
who was nominated for vice presi-
dent by the progressive national con-
vention at Chicago in June, was the
original promoter of the conference
idea. Although Theodore Roosevelt
who was nominated for president,
deserted the party and declined the
nomination in order that he might
support Hughes and join hands with
Penrose, Crane, Smoot. Hemenway.
and the rest of the old guard to put
Hughes over, Parker remained on
the ticket"
The sentiment among progressive
voters throughout Indiana seems to
be growing strongly all the time that
the progressive leaders have made
TO mistake in selecting a ticket of
high class men to maintain the
party in the state.
1t was really in Indiana, rather
than in Chicago that the progress
sive party was started in 1912. At the
time Of selecting state convention
delegates everybody admitted at the
time and nobody has ever since de-
MED the fact, the primaries were
filled with more fraud and open
corruption and crookedness than any
primaries ever held in the state.
What Started New Party.
The credentials committee of the
republican state convention deliber-
ately threw out some 200 delegates
who were opposed to the machine.
The indianapolis police force used
clubs 10 help the road roller. A
minority report was presented and
an attempt was made on the part or
those who afterward became pro-
gressives to reach a compromise
having a semblance of fairness.
They wished to prevent a split. In
one of the newspaper reports which
was at the time most favorable to
the machine and the steam roller
methods which were employed, these
paragraphs appeared. They are now
very interesting history:
"Stllwell moved 10 substitute the
minority report for the majority re-
port mad James f. Watson moved to
lay the minority report on the table.
Watson said he wished to bring the
question squarely before the house.
Charles II. Campbell. a Roosevelt
national committeeman, also tried to
get James p. Goodrich to enter into
an agreement to split the delegation
at large. but Goodrich also turned il
down"
Horace Stillwell. while the coma
Vention was in session. brought this
proposal TO Harry S. New, national
committeeman, but New refused TO
enter into any such arrangement"
James A. Hemenway placed in
nomination for delegates at large,
Charles w. Fairbanks. Harry s. New,
James +. Watson and Joseph
oliver"
Old Guard In Charge.