The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-10-20

uation precisely, while the home and
some others are lost for the time
being.
Acting upon principle, ! separated
from the Republican and participated
in the organization of the Progressive
party because my conscience forbade
that l should longer affiliate with the
party used as an instrument Of gov
eminent in behalf of large interests
enjoying special privileges at the ex-
pense of the whole people. The move
ment for a new party not only ap-
pealed to my judgment, but it aroused
an enthusiasm within me to a degree
which had never before experienced
] was chairman OF the first state CON
vention in Missouri and with the Ia
mented Col. Nelson of the Kansas City
Star attended the national convention
as a delegate-at-large. At Chicago
was made member Of the committee
on platform and Co-labored with the
excellent men of that body formulat-
ing what ! regard as the greatest dec
laration of principles and policies
given forth by any political assem-
blage of my day. On my return to
the candidate of the new party for
Governor and after a short campaign
of the state we polled $4,000 votes.
Many of us were entirely sincere and
embraced the cause for the better.
ment Of conditions generally with
lofty motives and purity of purpose
was one of this number and believed,
for | was given to so understand. that
we were engaged in building a per
manent party that should go forward
and upward in the task of retaining
the powers of government from the
great interests of the country, and
lodging them again in the hands of all
the people, where they justly reside
In our contract with the people we
not only declared our purpose not to
further aid the continuance of invisi-
BILE government in its maneuverings
through such men as Penrose, Smoot
Barnes, Crane, Guggenheim and 9th
ers, but we solemnly agreed to de-
throne 1t, that the peoples govern
ment might be administered by and
for them.
Having enlisted in this splendid
cause, l, for one, was politically happy
for the first time in my life, and this,
too, though 1t was well understood
that we would not be able to come
into office and power until the old Re
publican machine was completely de-
stroyed and the new party established
on the ruins of the old, but in accord
with the spirit of Lincoln. All of us
shared the promise that the linen and
women" thus gathered together
fVuN H. a., a., > II ,
be regarded as certain, according to
the thought of candid persons every
where, that those of us who affiliated
with the new party in good faith were
justified in believing, at leasts that |
we would not be abandoned on the
very center of the field when the flag
was floating high and the bugle call |
but sounded. But, be this as 1t may, |
the fact speaks for itself History |
will record and characterize it. AS |
chairman Of the Missouri delegation, |
j was present at the passing of the |
party and witnessed it with solemnity |
and sadness similar in degree to the !
feeling Of happiness experienced at its |
birth.
Here l found myself a political or
phan, recognizing no obligation to any
party but owing an allegiance to my
country which, according to con-
science, compels me to function, as a
citizen somewhere and somehow.
1t is obvious that the same crowd of
leaders constitute the
works of the Republican party now as
before. In 1912 these men were forced
o steal delegates to control the Re
publican convention, and in 1916, the
orogressives having moved out, they
the situation without oppo- 4
ition, for all were Of one accord. In ,
his situation 1t devolYed upon them (
o nominate candidate who would
).