Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-11
STATEMENT BY PERKINS
Roosevelt Will Be Suggested tc
G.. o. p. COnventiOn-If He Is
Not Wanted Republicans Will
BE Asked to Name a Leader
Who Can Re-unite the Parties.

Now York, May 1o.-The Progressive
party will not insist on the nomination
of Theodore Roosevelt for president Of
the United States if the republicans will
name a candidate at Chicago "who stands
for progressive principles and is able 20
put them through" according t. n state.
inent made here tonight by George w
Perkins, after a meeting of tho executive
committee of the progressive national
committee.
we of course are for Colonel Roose-
velt," declared Mr.. Perkins, and shall
suggest his name to the republicans. II
they reply that they will not agree o.
the colonel, we shall ask them to name IL
their man, who ought to be as nearly
unanimous q choice as our man is. We
are willing to he reasonable for the sake
of harmony"
Mr.. Perkins statement supplemented
general statement issued by the execu.
tive committee in which It was said
"If the republican convention is re-
sponsive to the patriotic spirit that
brought the Republican party into being
and made it dominant for half century,
1t will meet this crisis in a spirit of broad
patriotism that rises above partisanship.
Should the effort fail. the responsibility
for the result will not rest on the pro-
gressive convention but will rest on other
shoulders than ours.
In this turning point in world his
tory We will not stick on details. We will
! lay aside partisanship and prejudces. but
we will never surrender the principles for
which we stand and have stood. and viii!
| follow only leader who, We know.
stands for them and is able to put them
through Wa for
peace at any price"
1t said that the republicans and
independent voters in general had re-
sponded ''understandingly to the senti-
! ments expressed in the statement is-
sued in January by the progressive ma
tional committee which. in effect, was
/ an appeal for republicans and progress
sives Ito get together
It was added. however that there
| is an element in the Republican party
| leadership which seems to be giving
more thought and attention to what
that party is against. and whom it ia
against. than to what it is for and
whom it is for. Therefore. we again
call attention to our Chicago state-
ment as to the inevitable outcome Of
a failure to reach a common UNDER
standing
Reports from the progressive or
ganiZation throughout the country"
the executive committees statement
said. show that the American people
have become impatient OF leaders who
hold that comfort, prosperity and ma
terial welfare are above honor, self
sacrifice and patriotism that we need
a reawakeninC of our elder American
ism, of our belief in those things that
our country and our flag stand for;
that our people are seeking a leader
ship of the highest order and most
courageous character-leadership that
will draft to itself for the country's 8
benefit the unselfish and patriotic
service of our ablest citizens. Our
people are demanding that principles
and policies shall be proclaimed and
carried out by a man who has the wis
dom to formulate them and the man
. hood to uphold them"
! Complete delegations from every State
2 will attend the progressive national con-
vention which will be held at Chicago
= simultaneously with the republican ma
tional convention, it was announced. \
number of states. according to the COM
ntteemen, are planning TO send double
$ DELEGATIONS. allowing each delegate halt
q vote, The total number Of delegates
n will he upward OF loo. The program for
/ the temporary organization OF the con-
=. vention will he announced next week.
e After the forenoon session of the COM
e mittee George w. Perkins entertained the
o members at luncheon. Colonel Roosevelt
was present, and sat AT the head of the
table. Others attending were:
Walter +. Brown OF Ohio. Herbert
knox Smith of Connecticut, Matthew
Hale of Massachusetts, II. +. Gardner Of
Maine w. n. Lewis of Pennsylvania
, c. Z. Dodge of Colorado, Harold |" lckes
= of Illinois, Henry l.. StodGard and Oscar
s Straus of New York, William Flinr
and T.. \. Van NalkenbuG OF Pennsyl'
: vania, and B. +. Harris of Illinois.