Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-30
DEATH OF A PARTY

The progressive party, by its nation
al committee, met and committed hara-
kiri Monday. With sentimental ap-
propriateness it ended where it began
in the great and windy city of Chr
cago. Just before its demise it COM
posed and promulgated its own cpl
taph and, strangely enough, the cpl
taph was true. The set of men who
acted as midwife four years ago and as
firing squad Monday understood per-
fectly what they were doing, and why.
The resolutions tell the tale.
These declare that, whereas, jan
uary statement of the national COM
mittee, and also the platform, have set
forth the party-willingness TO work
with any man or party who saw the
nations need and put for leader fit
to meet it; and, whereas, we believe
with Colonel Roosevelt that in nomi-
mating Charles z. Hughes of New York
the republican party has put forth
such a leader, we therefore indorse
and concur in the recommendation of
Colonel Roosevelt that we support Mr..
Hughes
The main reason for the short life
and summary demise of the progress
sive organization is put there with
startling Clearness. Its members have
been totally unable to see that there
was anything to party except lead
err and a set of worshipful supporters,
They have apparently no conception
whatever of party as a working tel-
lowship, united in active individual
support of certain principles. They
have apparently, no conception what
ever of government as legislative
affair as well as an executive one. They
have, apparently, no conception what
ever of party action as a continuous
performance, going on no matter
whether a certain individual marches,
falls, retreats or throws up his com
mission.
The progressives were ready to sup
port any party which put forth d
leader" fit TO meet present conditions.
1t is a little difficult, in this wicked
world, TO know exactly what to say i'll
view of such childlike and touching
confidence. The progressive party was
founded on hero worship in the first
place. The -Rooseyelt-has just
expressed his desire to make over his
laurels to Hughes. And Roosevelt's
followers submissively concur, with
out perceiving that there is anything
funny about the proceeding.
The steeljacketed standpatters OF
the republican party have nominated
a man whose position on current is
To VIII 10Y
nominated him. Colonel Roosevelt
who urged the nomination Of one OF
the said steel jacketed standpatters,
towit, Henry Cabot Ledge-meditated
for two weeks on the past record OF
the candidate, and then approved the
selection of Barnes, Penrose, Smoot
ct al.
Behind the ostensible government
said the progressive platform of 1872
sits an invisible government, owning
no allegiance and acknowledging nc
responsibility to the people. To de-
stroy this invisible government, to dis
solve the unholy alliance between cor
rupt business and corrupt politics, is
the first task OF the craftsmanship OF
the day. The deliberate betrayal OF
its trust by the republican party
compelled the people to forge a
new instrument of government.
Unhampered by tradition, uncor
rupted by power, undismayed by the
magnitude Of the task, the new party
offers itself as an instrument of the
people 10 sweep away old abuses, to
build a new and nobler common
wealth"
Thas was four years ago. TODAY
these undismayed and interrupted
prophets meekly indorse the nominee
of the republican machine