Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-22

had chance their the cauS
observer two great political conventions in Chicago tried 70
together and failed The student of politics and
enment however, Lies that the two wings of the Repuh
lcan party actually coming together and that the
parent evidences to the contrary find counterpart in the
dashng together of two mighty streams which tempo
rary sndered by the reco while the time their waters
gradually mingling and finally flow in mighty
Nay more, the party movements of the past few months
have simply been the outward evidences of that of
the best blood of host of foreign nations Theodore Roose
welt took greater part did helpful service
for the American people in the promotion of this Of
amagamaon of than during the progress OF the
paign preceding the national conventions in Chicago.
'hyphenated' Americansm was rampant We had German
Americans, French Americans Irish-Americans and
endless series of foreign sympathzers American SOIL Civ
ing allegiance to foreign poentaes rayng about oppos
ton to foreign rulers All other political leaders in posi-
footing"
the Republican party had not single great leader posi-
ton to take the leadership in this The head of
nation in reply to the demand for preparedness for national
defense had invited foreign aggression by speaking of the
American people as nation too proud to fight Roose-
of the Presidents tour he moved
call for the greatest navy in the world
Then began that pounding process which has helped
than other national influence in years to force
oreign-Amercans to become Americans The pulpit and
the press joined with public speakers in crying down any
element of our citizenship that would separate this nation
into groups representing foreign naonaties 1t be-
came evident that no yphenated American could hope to
give the slightest allegiance any foreign power and live
and do business in the United States just it
Washington that oo proud fight protection
of American life and the recognition of the American flag
and the respecting of American rights everywhere.
To no one man do the American people this revival
Of American Amercnsm than to Theodore Roosevelt
10 no does the Republican party its restoration
to its historic position the party of advanced progress and
championship of human rights and social justice than TO
From time mmemoria the Democratic party had been
af party . OF % Misery the champion Of what had been
rather than the prophet of greater future Under the
OF State rights opposed to strongly centralized
men-a cry which we heard revived in the recent St Louis
convention IN connection with the contest the
suffrage plankunder the slogan personal liberty
oVldual effort as opposed to ernal government the Demo-
cratic party had opposed many of the progress
that ran counter to State rights and to ndivduam OPP
eminent control of railroads. protection of the public from
graspng monopoes and such for the promotion
of the public health as pure food legislation.
When Theodore Roosevelt into the leadership of
he Repu5ca p?ry his first task to Mark
had obtained Strangehod the Republican party The
coming the conservative party while the Democratic party
under the leadership of W. Bryan rapidly taking
progressive party of the country
VOL, was not long before Bryan began to charge Roose
Ve with stealing his issues Roosevelt championed the
rights Of the opposed to monopostic producers
ana they have short memories who recall the audible
of Theodore Roosevelt from the presidency in 1908
Inc struggle between the two wings of the party CHI.
tween Taft Roosevelt 1t was more largely however
battle to the death between the conservative pro-
gressIVe elements in the party.
struggle was resumed The hope the conservative bosses
was to force the nomination of conservative lean
ngs like Burton Of Ohio Knox of or Root of
New York The hope of the progressves was to force the
nomination OF Roosevelt.
Republicans Of the Penrose and Barnes stamp did not
want hughes and they fought his nomination to the last The
Root contingent from New York knew that they could not
look for pork from Hughes but they feared Roosevelt still
and they and their colleagues from other took
Hughes compromise.
The moment Hughes could speak without stultifyng
himself by becoming candidate for the presidency while
Justice of the Supreme Court and thus dragging supreme
bench into politics. his voice rang and strong in
half OF unduted Amelicanism and in protest against TIE
sacrifice of the lives and rights Of Americans in Mexico
corning which his friends knew he had long felt strongest
resentment.
1t evident that Hughes is the only who could
have hoped to reunte the republicans and progressves His
nomination logical well practical. Roosevelt
forced the nomination of Hughes and the progesve have
been led by Roosevelt gradually from demands for his
nomination to the acceptance of Hughes Immediate decn
ton by Roosevelt would have meant the nomination of
other candidate by the progressive convention Chicago
and the certainty of the reelection of Wilson
Roosevelt has handled this situation with master hand and
the greater you picture his desire for his nomination.
tho mako tO