Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1916-10-13
Judge Nortol Refused to Be Led Back Init
ihe Republican Party After unsparingly Con-
demning and Ciidsing It as a Member
Of the National Progressive Plat
form Committee in 1912.


nere 1 found myself a political or
phan, recognising no obligation to any
party but owing an allegiance to my
country which, according to con
science, compels me to function. as
citisen somewhere and somehow
It 10 obvious that the same crowd Of
reactionary leaders constitute the
works OF the Republican party now as
before. In 1912 these men we're forced
10 steal delegates to control the Re
publican convention, and In 1916, the
Progressives having moved out, they
controlled the situation without oppo.
sition, for all were of one accord. In
this situation It devolved upon them
to nominate candidate who would
appear to be Progressive in order to
consummate the plan SO manifestly
pre-arranged to destroy the Progress
sive party and seize, almost as by
force, its membership to be utilized in
rehabilitating the old Republican or
ganization to the end that the inyisi-
bic government may again be secure
In It's place and the army OF office
holders once more be triumphantly In
stalled In authority. In this view, Mr.
Hughes was introduced with much ac-
claim, not as a progressive. but as an
anti-boss candidate. Is II thought for
o moment that Barnes, Penrose, Crane,
Hmoot and others, who controlled the
Republican convention this summer,
would accept a Progressivef II so,
then why did not Cummins or some
others OF that school fare better?
Everyone who meditates upon 1t
knows that these men understand the
fundamental distinction lies in the
mental attitude In respect to the
rights Of property and the rights Of
men. The Progresslves believe In the
principle declared In the Declaration
Of independence to the effect that all
men are created free and equal, and
as such are possessed OF certain In.
alienable rights. among which are
those Of life, liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness. and that II is the chief
office OF government to secure and
protect these. The other school of
thought adheres to the old Tory doc
trine or aristocratic view that prop
erty and wealth accord special priv
iiege to the owner and special right.
Emanating from this fundamental dis
tinction In the two schools Of thought,
there arises every day and hour OF our
existence conflict between the rights
OF humanity on the one. hand and
those Of property on the other. Mr'
Lincoln, whose spirit dominated the
Republican party at one time. stood
for the rights of humanity as against
those of property; and this, too, was
the doctrine OF Thomas Jefferson. Sc
It was the Progressive platform Of
1919 employed the names OF these
two great friends Of the people con
junctively In declaring our doctrine
Such alone was the great fundamental
of the Progressive movement, and the
matter Of the opposition to bosses ant
boss control was but mere inciden
in the fight for human rights. and this
because the crooked special interests
which seek to control the govern
mental agencies in the interests o.
property first and relegate human
rights to the second place usually at
tain their ends through the activity o
the bosses who acquire political powe
for the purpose Of financial reward
Concede that Gov. Hughes opposes
Boss Barnes, and still he appears as
reactionary rather than as Progress
sive. Gov. Hughes vetoed the two
cent fare law in the populous state Q
New York, where more persons rid
on the railroads than in any othe
four states In the Union. And thi'
too. on mere opinion that It was cor
fiscatory in that It diminished tn
earnings OF property, and without a
Investigation as to the fact. thoug
the rights of men and women VIII
paid the railroad fares were involve
as well. He also vetoed the law III
ing the salary Of women teachers VIII
performed the like services as mel
although the matter of human right
! was involved and the elemental pr
cepts of social Justice called aloud fc
vindication. Likewise, he vetoed th
full-crew bill in the interests OF th
railroad properties, though its oper
, ton lessened the burden Of the toilel
| ana TenueTtu IuUIb SoNuiO thC hFSo
those In transportation.
In the view that II Is the office I
government to protect. property. Il
enlightened opinion Of the country hi
. long since settled upon the, propoi
ton in favor Of an income tax. for It
!, proper that one who possesses q lari
income, say representing q millio
whether in property or genius. shou
contribute moro to the support OF u
government which protects him In !
! enjoyment than the man OF less
! ! means who really enjoys but a slig
: measure Of protection regarded wi
reference to his neager portion. ~
! Congress passed and submitted to u
: : state legislatures for ratification 4
}, income tax amendment and Go
!. Hughes sent a message to the legisl
) turs OF his state In opposition to
Il and In this he advanced reasons col
= : monty put forward by the big busine
= and reactionary crowd. William Barn
: and others. The position thus
= !, sumed was In favor Of property a
e y inimical to the rights Of humanity
y \ large, from whom the proposal W
3 = designed to lift considerable burd
- taxatioo On n Ia We see. that