New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-08

Chicago. June T. The keynote ad-
dress Of the Progressive party's ma
tional convention here to-day, delv-
cred by Raymond Robins, Of Chicago,
as temporary chairman, asserted IN
vigorous terms:
|. That the Progressives will stand
by the announcement made by the ma
tional committee last January that the
party will Join the Republicans 4 the
latter nominate for President a man
true TO Progressive principles.
2. That the principle. however, ~
greater than the party, and If need ne
| the Progressvcs will 60 on alone.
g. That preparedness is the para
mount issue OF the campaign; and
l. That Theodore Roosevelt 10 the
man of the hour.
What this country needs now is
man." announced Mr.. Robins. In the
course of his speech he said: NOW
/ as we are met again in national CON
vention there comes 10 Us once more
/ common knowledge that In 1912 We
| sounded forth trumpet that shaii
never call retreat And We know that
we are here TO write record that shall
witness alike TO the faintheartcd and
! the skeptical and 10 the great army
still faithful 10 the cause that our
vision is yet undimmed and that our
standards have not been furled.
Grinding Poverty Unnecessary.
1--WE may we'll confess that under
other flags, even under other national
! ideals, American ingenuity, industry
| and courage might have achieved great
er material welfare for all her people,
and with her vast natural resources she
might we'll have done away with that
grinding poverty that is now unknown
in many less favored lands.
"A competent programme for ma
/ tional preparedness must comprehend
and meet the social, economic and spir-
itual needs Of the people. Mere mill
tRry preparedness alone is inadequate
for the safeguarding of the nations
/ life. even in time of war. The anal
issue of the titanic struggle that now
convulses Europe will be decided in the
| homes, workshops, fields and laborato-
res Of the peoples now at war. ANY
programme for national security IN
/ time Of war that does not Involve social
and economic security In time OF peace
is false 10 the needs Of the nations life,
and arouses suspicion as 10 'he good
faith or intelligence OF its advocates.
THE great nations now at war have
developed an organized cooperative in
dustry, capable of economic production,
unprecedented in the history Of inter
national commerce. To meet these new
economic weapons in the markets OF
the world, American industrial life
must undergo complete reorganization.
The old wastes must be eliminated
and the old methods transformed.
America must be equipped TO hold
her share of the worlds trade. The
old log-rolling devices of special in
terests using tariff schedules as a
public commission for private plumber
are "a destructive 10 national welfare
as they are intolerable to the national
/ conscience. We must speedily prepare
10 deal with these problems, particular
/ ly with that of the tariff, with scien-
/ tifc non-partisan machinery Of Gcrern-
ment, functioning for the commercial
advantage Of all the people.
Ready 10 Battle Alone.
/ Eve believe that the need and OPP
+ portunty Of the time is such that
/ personal differences, partisan bitter
Less and local pre- JUDGES should be
surrendered 10 serve the nations high
est good. We should not be parted by
mere names, however dear, nor by past
resentments. however justified.
But we should solemnly warn all
those Of an easy and accommodating
political virtue that we will not sur
render principle nor make unworthy
compromise to gain a meaningless and
selfish political victory We would
rather face possible defeat fighting for
] than n aeak aegnreH VictOrv
/ through moral treason to those high
principles and heroic souls that com
/ bined TO make US the second party OF
/ this nation in 1912.
The 100000 voters who followed
/ our leader and espoused our cause can
be augmented to a majority perhaps
more easily under united banners, but
If need be the Progressive standard
will go forward alone We cannot be
7 lieve that a rule-or-ruin faction will
dominate the political machinery Of the
/ historic party Of Lincoln, and that
they will prefer personal defeat and
national degradation to acceptance OF
/ the foremost leadership Of the nation.
But in this day and hour 1t should be
made plain that the choice is in our
hands and that the judgment OF the peo-
I pie will be upon our heads.
1--WE are ready 20 keen full and gen
erous faith with the declaration of our
national committee in January OF the
present year But II our faith shall
meet no response and we alone STAND
ready 10 meet the demands upon the
patriotism of American political lead
ership we shall not shrk the task
There are worse things than temporary
defeat for great principles of human
justice and moral truth.
For our part we feel that in this