Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-27
lROOSEVELT COMES OUT
IN SUPPORT OF HUGHES
In Letter to Progressives, Strongly
Urges Them to Work for Re-
publican Candidate.
DECLINES TO HEAD TICKET
Declares 1t Would Be Grave Dctrt-
ment to Country tn REFLECT Pres.
ident Wilson, Whose Deeds Also.
lutely Contradict His Words"

y welt, in letter road TO the Progress
g sfvo National Committee, III session
d here to-day, finally declined to accept
y the presidential nomination of the
h party. and strongly urged the orGani-
Ration to support Charles Z. Hughes.
s The Coloners letter was read by
d Oscar King Davis. secretary OF the
n committee.
The letter was as follows:
Il TO the Progressive National Com
mittee:
Z Gentlenen,--Iu accordance with the
y message ! sent TO the Progressive Ma
4 tionpl Convention soon as had
\ received the notification that It had
Nominated me for President. I now
Y comruuntoato to YOU my reasons for
4 Declining the honor which l deeply
anpreotate. Since the adjournment OF
fSSllH Convention, have received between
4ag,ooo and 1000 letters ana kilograms
y, from men who had supported me for
s 81 he Auninat!on. the majority express
II Sng. Lhe desire that ! would refuse to
& Sun, while minority urged that I
IS shoufd accept the nomination. AS Il
s. IS physical irupossibilitv to answer
Is these letters and kilograms ,ndi-
- v,dua1ly. l beg Of tho courtesy Of tho
Is Benders that they Will accept thfs pub
S<s1io Statement In lieu Of such answers
Before speaking Of anything else.
Z wishto express my hcarticst and most
tnsSinted admiration for the character
and services of the men and women
.whosInade ND the Progressive National
Convention In 1916. can give them
no higher praise than to say that In
IS all respects they stood level with the
=. men and women who in 1912 joined nj
iIfChicaEo to found'the Progressive party.
q, These two conventions. In character
q in Observation-Disclosures. In vision. In
4 insight, in high purpose, and in desire
y to render practical service to the peo-
n pie. typiled exnotly what such bodies
q ought to be IN a. great self-governing
Y democracy, They Tepr esented the spirit
q which moved Abraham Lincoln and his
= political associates during tho decade
Y preceding the close Of tho Civil War
n Tho platform put forth in 1912 was
e much the most important public docu-
y ment promulgated in this country
y since tho death Of Abraham Lincoln
ut represented the first effort on q
@barge scale 20 translate abstract
4 formulas OF economic and social JUG
II tice into conureca yA1neTaoan nation
4 alism; tho effort to apply the prin-
n ciples of Washington and Lincoln to
81 the need OF the Omitted States in the
~ was ever made 10 serve, the American
III people. IN a fpirft OF high loyalty TO
y all that Ia Hottest IA the American
n tradition.
rs OFFERED OMIT HISTEnNaa,rIvE
TO DEMOCRATIC TRIUMPH
~ Events have shown thatsthe Progres-
fy sive party in 1919 offered tho only al
81 Tentative co TIM triumph OF the Demo-
8 cratic party. Moreovn1S these events
~ have shown that the application OF
81 the principles. which Uo then advocated
81 Is even more necessary TO this nation
81 than we at the time supposed.
The results OF tho terrible world war
Z of the past two yeare nave now made
2 1t evident 20 all who are willing TO
! see. that in this country there must
q be spiritual and Industrial prepared
i ness. along the lines Of efficiency, OF
q loyal service TO tho nation and OF prac-
teal application OF the precept that
4 each man must 90 his brothers keeper
4 Furthermore. It Is no loss evident. that
3 this Preparedness for f2le tasks OF
4 peace forms the only sound ba.is for
I that Indispensable military prepared
! ness which rests on universal military
training. and whinh fnds expression in
universal obligatory service in time
\ OF war. Suck. universal obligatory
\ training and"seTTice are the necessary
4 compliments of universal suffrage and
8 represent the realization OF tho true
American. the. dsn,oGratic ideal IN both
Y peace and war.
81 Sooner or later the national prin
3 ciples cha1uI1oned by tho Prosress,ves
n OF 1slp must In their general effect be
4 embodied IN tho structure of our ma
I; ffona1 existence. With AL rly heart
$ shall continue 10 work for these great
d adealB, shoulder TO shoulder with the
S. men and wolneIf who In 1912 cham
81 pionsn theni and an sure that these
81 men and women will show like
a loyalty TO tht, other. the Fundamental.
= ideals which the events of the pas,
q two yeare have proven 10 be vital 20
II the pcrmanency OF our national cxist-
81 ence. the method by which We are 10
81 show our loyalty to these IDEALS mus,
Sd be Determined IL each cas-" ty the ac-
81 tuaI event Our loyalty Is 10 tho fact
"a TO the principle, TO thc ideal, and not
4 merely 20 tho name, and least Of all
q. TO the party name
III JSOALCCLABLE IMPETUS TO
fs PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
f3 The Progr essivc rlopen.en. has h..n
ka given an Laoaloulabie Impetus by yr, a.
Ei the FTogzs ssfve party hss done our
"a cepted and cfnoted into law. or ON
81 bodied dn fhe1r party p!-.,Aasas, very
50 many OF our r.lat 1, utfA, pin
~ ciples. Much has heel ACCOMPLISHED
in awakening tho public 20 better
50 understanding OF TIE Iuobleuls ~ go
I'd cia@ and industrial welfare
III Yet !t has become entirely eyiter,
"a that the people under existing conal.
81 tons are not prepared 10 ,ccop. g now
y! party.
~ 1t ie impossible for Us ProEregsiv.s
gl to abandon our convictions But wo
ia are faced with the fact that as things
6j actually are. the Progressive national
~ organizatton>Dn longer orters the yn.n.,
&. whersby"we Dan make these conviction,
81 effective In our nettonnl life und.,
s# such circumstances, our duty Is to q,
59 tho best we Can. and not to aulk be-
N cause our leadership IS rejected -ha
st we ourselves continue to believe thu
3i the course we advocated WAS in th,