The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-05
Chairman of 1916 Progress
sive Convention Issues
Statement Today
SAYS VOTERS DECREED
DEATH OF BULL MOOSE
In the Elections of 1912 and 1914 and
That All Signs Point to a Desire on
Part of People for But Two Political
Parties This Year.

CHICAGO, August 5.-Declaring that
the voters of the nation in 1912 and 1914
deereed the death of the Progressive par
ty, and that all signs pointed to desire
bn the part of the American people to
work out their political future with the
instruments provided by the two dom-
nant parties, Raymond Robins OF Illinois.
chairman of the 1916 Progressive national
convention, today issued statement call
ing on his party to support Charles f.
Hughes, the Republican nominee for the
presidency
The manner in which the Progressive
tickets of 1912 and 1914 were received bv
the voters, Mr., Robins said, indicated the
movement to he a revolt within a party
and not a permanent political cleavage
sufficient to warrant the maintenance of
Progressive party lines The statement in
part follows:
For some years prior to 1912 in com
mon with other progressive citizens. | had
hoped for a new cleavage in American po-
ltical life-a cleavage that would bury the
dead issues of 1860. wipe out sectional
lines and prcjudce-and comprehending
the vital, social and economic issues Of the
Goth century would divide American poIti-
cal parties along true lines of honest con
scrvatiye sentiment When Col Roosevelt
voiced this need and desire and declared
himself as willing TO serve in realizing a
genuine progressive and liberal party.
in common with over 1000. 900 voters re
sponded to his call.
In our first campaign while the total
vote was an extraordinary testimony to
Col Roosevelt's personal popularity, we
elected no single Progressive governor,
nor legislature, nor sufficient members to
| be even balance of power in congress In
| 1914 we had a real test of the Progressive
voters in 1912 and the willingness of the
American people to use new party in
the practical solution of the problems of
our political life. Generally throughout
| the nation the progressive candidates
bracing its most gifted leaders and all
generously supported by Col Roosevelt
and as Il rule fairly treated by the daily
prcss-ran bad third Nearly three
iourths of the Progressive voters refused
to support the Progressive candidates in
l9l4 BY this test throughout the Union
the Progressive voters of 1912 declared in
overwhelming majority that they regarded
the Progressive candidates as the repre-
sentatives of a protest and not a party
of a mere revolt rather than permanent
political cleavage.
The Progressive movement and revolt
OF 1912 having failed as permanent politi
cal party, and the verdict of the voter.
Ihaving been rendered in favor of the Dem
Iocratlc and Republican parties as the in
,struments Of their organized political ac
ltion; what is the present duty of the mel
land women who were loyal to the Pro
gressive party and who believe in Pro
lgressive principles? In which of thes
dominant parties in the long run will Pro
lgressive principles find most effective sup
port and where will the rank and file ant
leadership of the Progressive party fine
largest cooperation in the service of on
common country?
"Comprehending our national ncccssitic
how can Progressive hesitate long t.
choose between the party of nationaisu
and the party OF scctionaism? Shou
not wise and sincere Progressives go el
masse into the Republican primaries, an
lighting shoulder to shoulder with Pre-
gressive Republicans, help and be hepe
; in our common struggle for social and in
dustrial Justice in city, state and nation
THE present leader of the Republica
; party is the most conspicuous example i
,our history of the possibilities that Amer
. lean politics may hold for success in abb
and unsellish public service. For mysc
| gladly enlist with the great majority {
the Progressives of the nation under tn
leadership of Charles Evans Hughes"