Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-16
PROGRESSVESCALLED
FOR NEW CONVENTION
John M. Parker Says the Bull Moose
"Led His Loyal Followers
Into the Wilderness"

NEW ORLEANS. July 15.-A state
ment and call to 1.-The patriotic men and
women of America" to hold a new ma
tional convention of the progressive
party in Chicago August 5. and nomi-
nate candidates for President and Vice
President. and continue the party's ex-
istence as a distinct political organiza-
ton. was issued here tonight by John
NJ. Parker. vice presidential nominee Of
the progressive convention held in Chi
cago last June. He urges the progress
sives to 'eternally bury" the bull moose.
which, he asserts, led his loyal follow
ers into the wilderness" and to adopt in
it's place the American eagle as the en-
blem Of the party.
Mr.. Parker does not mention Col.
Roosevelt or any other progressive
leaders or any candidates by name. He
declares. however, that the progressives
had as supposed leaders -blooded
Americans, who promised with their
life blood to stay with the party to the
finish" but that the party had been de-
serted by large part of its officers.
who could not stand the acid test. He
charges that the leaders for "steam-rolle
reasons have elected to be steam roll
ed" and that the time has come when
every party working for human welfare
and the future of America should unite
against both dominant parties. In criti-
cising the republican party, the state
ment indirectly refers to Charles E.
Hughes, republican candidate for Presi-
dent, as "a splendid man." selected by
the republicans "as the mask behind
which they hope to again secure con-
troll of state and nation"
Mr., Parker declares he does not want
Office and states his willingness to with
draw as the progressive candidate for
Vice President and labor in the ranks
and on the stump to prove his loyalty
to progressive principles. His inclu-
sion of women in the call is taken to
mean that the party is to be unreserv-
eddy pledged for woman suffrage, and
that the woman voters in the suffrage
sive party and work for its success in
the coming election.
Statement of Mr.. Parker.
Mr.. Parker's statement, in part. fol-
To the patriotic men and women of
America:
The progressive ship has been desert
ed by a large part of our officers. They
could not stand the acid test. Their as
surance never to abandon the prin-
ciples to which we progressives pledged
ourselves" never to alter their solemn
contract with the people," proved
empty words-a mere scrap of paper.
The bull moose led his royal followers
into the wilderness-and there desert
ed them. Let US eternally bury their
emblem, and adopt as the new emblem
of the progressive party the national
bird. the American eagle, which will
always be a patriotic inspiration to
look upward. and a constant reminder
to be true to those sterling principles
which have made America great and
brought to this country the bravest and
most adventurous spirits of the old
world. These and their descendants
are truly loyaf and patriotic Americans.
"The old parties are husks, with no
real soul within either" The past four
years have emphasized this truth. We
fought for our convictions in 1912. We
were right then, and are doubly right
now.
The work of the steam roller in 1917
caused a revolt in every state in the
Union. That same steam roller, manipu-
lated by the same able leaders, was
worked in the republican convention OF
1915, with even greater force. and the
methods of these two conventions were
adopted by the progressive national
committee, as is fully shown by the
various votes recorded by the proxies
and members present June &c.
For fifty years not patriotic states
men but political leaders have utilized
the southern vote to give them an abso-
lutte grip on national affairs, and en-
able the republican party, through its
political bosses, to nominate whom it
pleased, controlling that party by means
of hand-picked delegates from a section
where there is no chance to secure a
single republican elector.
Earnest, patriotic and able men from
every state in the Union worked to
bring about radical change from
those conditions which would enable
to handle their own problems, develop,
as they would do. amazingly, and take
virile part in national life.
Why He Joined the PARTY.
L Joined the progressive party from
deep-seated conviction that it stood
for what was best for humanity. best
for my country, best for my state and
best for the people of the south Today
my views are stronger than ever that l
was absolutely right.
l did not want office then, and I do
not want office now, and my appeal to
the men and women of America and of
every individual state is to call an
other convention to meet in Chicago
August 5, the fourth anniversary of the
birth of the progressive party, nomi-
nate candidates for President and Vice
President and let me labor in the
ranks and on the stump to prove my
work is for the principles l believe Ing
and not for office, elective or appointive
Men and women of America, the hour
has come when you should Loyalty work
for the welfare of the nation, uninf1u-
enced and uncontrolled by the political
bosses or Wall street.
(Signed) JOHN NJ. PARKER.