The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-06-29

Stdnulng OF tne problems of social and
industrial welfare.
Yet, 1t has become entirely evident
that the people under existing condi-
tions are not prepared to accept a new
party.
1t is impossible for us Progressives
to abandon our convictions. But we
are faced with the fact that as things
actually are the Progressive national
organization no longer offers the
means whereby we can make these
convictions effective in our national
life.
Under such circumstances our duty
is 10 DO the best we can and not to
sulk because our leadership is rejected.
That we ourselves continue to be-
lieve that the course we advocated was
In theh ighest interest of the American
people is aside from the question. 1t
is unpatriotic to refuse to do the best
possible merely because the people
have not put us in position to do what
we regard as the very best.
Duty Is to Make Effective Op-
position to Wilson Policies.
1t remains for us, good d-humoredly,
and with common sense, to face the
situation and endeavor to get out of it
the best that can be made to weld
from the standpoint of the interests of
the nation as a whole.
This was the situation at the OPEN
ing of the present year. 1t was eyi-
dent that unless a cataclysm occurred
the presidential election would result
in the choice of either the Republican
or the Democratic nominee.
The present administration, during
its three years of life, had been guilty
OF shortcomings more signal than those
of any administration since the days
OF Buchanan. From the standpoint Of
national honor and interests, it stood
on an even lower level than the ad-
ministration of Buchanan.
No administration in our history had
done more to relax the spring Of the
national will and to deaden the nation
al conscience.
Within the Republican party conflict
ing forces were at work. There were
men among the organization leaders
who advocated a course of action such
as offered no improvement upon the
Democratic position, and advocated the
nomination of candidates whose cleo
pr0Vement upon the continuance in Of
flee of Mr.. Wilson.
If such a course were followed, it
would obviously become our duty to
run a third ticket. But it was plain
ly our duty to do everything honor
able in order to prevent such a neces-
sity; to do everything short of sacri-
ficing our most sacred convictions in
order to secure the alignment under
one leadership of the forces opposed
to the continuance in power of Mr..
I Wilson and the Democratic party.
PrOgressives Seek Patriotic and
Unselfish Leadership.
Under these circumstances the Pro
gressive national committee at Chi
cago, in January, outlined our duty to
seek common action with the Republi-
can party, using the following words
Our people are seeking leadership
leadership of the highest order and
most courageous character; leader
ship 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 Progress
sive and Republican parties choose the
same standard bearer and the same
principles"
\ Six weeks later, on March 8, in my
Trinidad statement, l asked for sim
liar combination against the Demo
cratic party, on a platform of clean
cut, straight-out national American
isn," and for a candidate "who will
not merely stand for sucn a program
before election, but will resolutely ant
In good faith put it through If elect
ed"
This was, in effect, the same state
ment that / made in my telegram t.
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 hon
or of our country, to enforce the pol
icies of genuine Americanism and gen
uine preparedness? Surely we can al
ford to act in accordance with th'
words of Abraham Lincoln when h'
said: May not all having a common
interest reunite in a common effort Il
save our common country? May W.
ask those who have not differed witt
us to join In this same spirit toward
those who haveY AS far as my owl
soul is known to me it is in this sam'
spirit at this time 1 make my ap
peal to the Republicans and Progress
sives assembled in Chicago"
In addition to these public state
ments / also had stated my attitude
verbally, and In letters during tn
weeks Immediately preceding the con
vention, to scores of leading Progress
sives from all parts of the country, In
Guiding many of the leaders at the con
vention.
To these men l expressed my earn
est hope that the Republicans woul'
: so act as to make it possible for TN
Progressives to join with them. l stai
ed to them, however, that in view
the attitude of some Of the Repu6lical
leaders, it was at least conceivaDi
that we should be put In posltlo
where our highest duty, our fealty. .
, the country, our sense of what patrio,'
ism demanded In a great crisis woui
make it imperative upon us to run
separate ticket; and that whether