Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-13

1917 1910 convention lmpossipaS.
The nomination of Mr.. Hughes in
1916 proved that the beating that the
"Oid Guard received in 1912 did not
teach them anything.
1t remains to be seen il the thump-
ing they received in this 1916 cam
paign has taught them something.
However, whether it has taught them
anything or not, the course that has
been pursued by the "Old Guard" since
the election of Taft in 1908 and the
defeat of the Republican party in the
1910 congressional election proves that
away down in the bottom of their
hearts, they hate anything that looks
like Progressive. And the majority
of them today, II they would come out
and speak their honest sentiments, are
still determined to fight the Progress
sives regardless of the cost or results
EXPECTS BREACH TO WIDEN.
While they all regret the reelection
of President Wilson, it is evident they
would feel much worse il Progress
sive were elected. So we may expect
the breach between the Progressive
element and the reactionary ele-
ment in the Republican party will
be widened beyond any hope of ever
bridging 1t over.
As the matter stands now, the 'Old
Guard" has the organization, while the
Progressives have the votes. Perhaps
not as strongly marked in many states
as in California, but California indi-
Gates the way it will work out. In the
meantime it is well enough for every
body to take note that the voters in
the west are growing to be more indie
pendent of old party lines and old
party prejudices. hence they are more
progressive than the voters in the east.
| The majority of the voters in the west
want national prohibition and national
suffrage for women. These two great
issues and other beneficial reforms will
be important factors in every national
campaign until they are settled right
WEST is INDEPENDENT.
| The voters in the west are not vot-
ing the old party tickets because their
grandfathers did, as they realize that
the parties changed leadership and
] policies, and that many of the old ma
tional issues are things of the past
And If their grandfathcrs were living
today, they would refuse to be bound
by old party lines for obvious reasons
In Lincoln's time, the Republican
party advocated a government by the
majority of the people. The reaction
airy leaders of the Republican party OF
today believe in a government by a
representative class; in other words
a minority class-a ruling class
The doctrine advocated by the Taft
| fa ND nj
aries of the Republican party of to-
day is exactly the reverse of Lincoln's
doctrine. The doctrine of the "Olo
Guard in the Republican party of to-
day is the reverse of the doctrine ad-
vocated by the Progressives.
DOCTRINES WIDE APART.
In fact, the doctrines advocated BY
these two divisions OF the Republican
party are as wide apart as the poles
and there is no common ground
| While a certain faction of the Pro
gressive leaders may be willing to NEE
a certain faction of the "Old Guard
and agree upon a plan to work to-
gether for campaign purposes only
the rank and file among the voters o.
the two factions. whose hearts are II
the cause, will not follow the abov,
leadership.
The reactionary element in the Re
publican party should immediatel.
unite with their brother reactionarie
in the Democratic party, so they cal
be happy ever after while they lister
TO the siren song of the big monop
olistic combines and the invisible gov
eminent as voiced by their substitute,
press.
The Progrcssives of all partie
should organize under an entirely diff
. ferent banner.
Very truly yours,
JAMES M. 1NGERSOLL,
Progressive Party National Com
| f... AL