The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1916-06-23

but little conflict over the vice presi-
dency. There was agreement upon the
platform and everybody was happy.
The convention was ready to consult
| the presidents pleasure in regard to
the issues to be emphasized and the
president was as anxious to ascer-
tain the sentiment of the delegates.
The situation could hardly be better
from Democratic standpoint.
If the two branches of the Repub-
lican party had conferred in spirit Of
friendship and come together on a
compromise ticket they might have
made a strong fight, but, instead of
that, the regular Republicans were
merciless.
They showed no respect whatever
for the wishes or feelings of the Pro-
gressives, the old guard was in control
and a Republican victory will restore
to power those who represent plans
and purposes of the plutocratic ele-
ment.
The Republican party makes the ap-
peal to the standpoint element of the
country only. The PrOgressives are
disappointed and disheartened by
Roosevelt's refusal to run. They are
sheep without shepherd. They are
open to Democratic appeal-the Demo
cratic party's opportunity is here. 1t
can and should appeal to the Progress
sives. The presidents splendid reform
work and the party's record combine
to give strength to this appeal.
Would Welcome Progressives.
There is no doubt of the desire of
the delegates to 60 as far as possible
in the direction of making the Demo
cratic position attractive to the home
less Progressives, and the presidents
attitude on domestic problems makes
the task an easy one.
Colonel RoOsevelt's attack upon the
president was confined to international
questions, and the criticisms of the
presidents course to which the Pro-
gressive convention gave Endorsement
will be discarded along with Mr..
Roosevelt. In leaving the Progressive
party the colonel carried with him all
that was Rooseveltesque and left all
that was valuable in the way Of re-
form principles and policies. The
Democratic convention can please the
Progressives in three ways.
Wall Street Controls.
First, 1T can tell the truth about the
Republican party's subserviency to
predatory wealth. The Republican Or
ganiZation is in the hands of the men
who are responsible for spreading
BelshaZzar's feast for the exploiting of
the country. If it ever showed any
conscience of a nation it has gone
back to it's "wallow in the mire." It's
invitation is now extended to every
special interest and the invitation will
call to the Republican banner all the
hosts of Wall street. They were once
mighty, even to the point of being ir-
resistible, but their methods have been
exposed and their support. when un-
derstood. is a liability rather than an
asset. The president has alienated
The money powers by the firm stand
which he took on currency reform.
antitrust legislation and on the tariff
question, and he still further offended
so-called big business by the appoint
ment of Brandeis to the Supreme
bench. He cannot count upon the sup
port of any "of the interests" but
lust in proportion as he has alienated
them he has won the admiration Of
the rank and file of the Progressive
voters. NJ s :ssa !
Social Justice Issue.
Second. the Progressives are very
ton carrying out their program for So
cial justice. Here, too the president
is in sympathy with their desires. and
he is supported in this attitude by the
Democratic party. The real reforms
proposed by the Progressives in spirit,
If not in letter. represent exactly what
the Democratic party has been striv-
ing for. The party thus attracts the
Progressives at the very point where
the reactionary Republicans most re-
pei.
The third means of emphasizing the
party's desire to welcome the Progress
sives will be found in the suppression
of the reactionaries in the Democratic
party. There are tares growing with
wheat and they have been allowed to
grow lest in uprooting them some
wheat might be uprooted also. but the
party will be compelled to choose be-
tween this small and undesirable ele-
ment on the one hand, and the large
and desirable addition which will find
the Democratic party congenial in
proportion as the ractionary element
is frozen out.
Air Is Cleared.
Those whose first allegiance is to
the favor-seeking corporations will
naturally gravitate to the Republican
party and to the policies for which it
stands. The process of elimination
will take care of itself as the party
defines the issue between the mass of
the people asking only for the safe
guarding of their rights and the privi-
Il odx